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Billingsley,  A.  S.  1818- 

1897. 
The  life  of  the  great 

preacher.  Reverend  George 


Ux^^^rry^ /^^VU^^ 


MAR  11191: 
THE    LIFE  V2 


Great  Preacher, 


REVEREND 

EORGE  WHITEFIELD, 

"PRINCE  OF  PULPIT  ORATORS," 

WITH 

THE   SECRET   OF    HIS  SUCCESS, 

AND 

SPECIMENS  OF  HIS  SERMONS. 
y    BY 

Rev.  a.  S.  BILLINGSLEY, 

LATB  CHAPLAIN   U.  S.  A.,  AND  AUTHOR   OF    "FROM   THE   FLAG  TO  THB   CROSS." 


P.  W.  ZIEGLER  &  CO.,  Publishers, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  ;  Chicago   111. 


Copyright,  1878, 
By  a.  S.  BILLINGSLEY. 


PREFACE. 

♦ 

VVhitefield  was  a  flame  of  fire.  And  as  that  "flame  has  shone  so 
bright,  enlightened  the  minds  and  warmed  the  hearts  of  so  many, 
it  is  very  important  to  keep  it  burning.  But  as  it  has  long  since 
ceased  to  burn  in  the  original  socket,  and  now  shines  only  as  re- 
flected through  the  historic  page,  Whitefield's  life,  words  and  deeds 
should  be  in  every  household.  "Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh." 
Enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  God's  people,  like  his  great  Master,  he 
still  lives  by  the  fervent  prayers  he  prayed,  the  eloquent  sermons  he 
preached, and  the  holy  doctrine  he  taught.  Dead  to  self  and  conse- 
crated to  God,  with  his  towering  faith,  humble  walk  and  holy  life, 
he  still  lives  by  the  godly  example  he  set  us.  Bold,  earnest,  elo- 
quent and  powerful,  as  a  preacher,  he  still  lives  as  "  the  unequaled 
prince  of  pulpit  orators."  Having  lived  and  died  for  Christ  he  still 
lives  as  a  martyr  for  Jesus. 

But  Whitefield  was  not  only  a  flame  of  fire,  he  was  also  a  flame  of 

love.     And  it  was  the  union  of  the  flame  of  fire  with  the  flame  of 

love  that  made  him  so  powerful.      Who  struck  fresh  life  into  a  dead 

church?     George  Whitefield.     How?     By  the  power  of  his  fervent 

prayers,   eloquent  sermons  and  abundant  labors.      "He  smote  the 

rock"  of  the  churcli's  resources,  and  stream.s  of  life  and  salvation 

gushed   out.      He  touched  the  dead  corpse  "of  a  lifeless,  palsied 

church,  and  it  rose  and  stood  upon  its  feet."     Then  let  the  church 

garner  his  remains,  hold   forth  his  brilliant,   Christ-like  example, 

print  and  circulate  his  life,  until  it  shall  abound  as  the  leaves  of 

autumn. 

(ui) 


IV  PREFACE. 

The  following  pages  contain  much  about  Whitciield  found  in  no 
other  biography.  Written  from  a  religious  stand-point,  we  hoi)e  it 
will  do  much  to  strengthen  Christians  and  to  convert  sinners.  We 
found  it  refreshing  to  write  it,  and  hope  it  will  prove  refreshing  tc 
read  it. 

To  save  room  and  avoid  copious  foot-notes,  we  generally  omitted 
the  author  and  page  referred  to.  If  anything  should  be  called  in 
question,  we  have  the  authors  on  hand. 


LIST  OF  AUTHORS 

CONSULTED  IN  THE  FOLLOWING  WORK. 


Whitefield's  Journal,  London.  , 

Whitefield's  Journal,  revised  and  corrected  by  himself,  London, 

'756. 

Whitefield's  Autobiography,  1756,  London. 

Rev.  Dr.  John  Gillies'  Life  of  Whitefield,  London,  1772. 

Two  other  Editions  of  the  same,  enlarged  and  improved. 

Life  and  Times  of  Whitefield,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Philip,  1838. 

J.  R.  Andrews'  Life  of  Whitefield,  London,  1829. 

Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Belcher's  Life  of  Whitefield,  New  York,  1857. 

Rev.  D.  Newell's  Life  of  Whitefield,  1855,  New  York. 

Harsha's  Life  of  Whitefield. 

Whitefield's  Works,  7  vols.,  1771,  London. 

Rev.  John  Wesley's  Works,  7  vols.,  octavo. 

Tyerman's  Life  and  Times  of  John  Wesley,  3  vols.,  1872. 

Whitehead's  Life  of  John  and  Charles  Wesley. 

Coke's  Life  of  Wesley — Edinburgh  Encyclopedia. 

Richard  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley. 

Dr.  Gillies'  Historical  Collections. 

Prince's  Christian  History,  2  vols. 

History  of  Methodism,  by  Dr.  A.  Stevens. 

Mosheim's  Church  History,  4  vols. 

Life  of  Lady  Huntingdon,  London,  2  vols.,  8vo.  ! 

Sidney's  Life  of  Rowland  Hill.  "1 

Jay's  Life  of  Cornelius  Winter. 

Dwight's  Life  of  Jonathan  Edwards. 

The  Great  Awakening. 

Biblical  Repertory. 

Edwards's  Works,  4  vols. 

John  Newton's  Works,  6  vols. 

History  Presbyterian  Church,  Dr.  C.  Hodge,  2  vols. 

(V) 


VI  LIST    OF    AUTHORS. 

The  Log  College,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Alexander. 
Lossing's  Field  Book  of  tlie  Revolution,  2  vols. 
Boswell's  Life  of  Dr.  Samuel  Jolinson,  2  vols. 
History  of  Georgia,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Stevens,  2  vols. 
Life  of  General  Oglethorpe. 
Life  and  Essays  of  Dr.  Franklin. 
Appleton's  American  Encyclopedia,  16  vols.,  8vo. 
AUibone's  Dictionary  of  Authors,  3  vols.,  8vo. 
Life  of  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

The  Prince  of  Pulpit  Orators,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wakely. 
Religious  Encyclopedia. 
Blake's  Biographical  Dictionary. 
John  Wesley,  by  Julia  Wedgwood,  London. 
Cambuslang  Revival. 

Revivals  of  Religion  in  Scotland  and  Wales,  Pres.  Board. 
James'  Earnest  Ministry. 
Works  of  Dougald  Stuart. 

Hetherington's  History  of  Church  of  Scotland. 
Bancroft's  History  United  States,  10  vols. 
Great  Preachers. 

History  United  States,  Quackenbos. 
History  United  States,  A.  H.  Stephens. 
Lady  Huntingdon  and  Her  Friends. 

Biographical  Dictionary,  32  vols.,  by  Alexander  Chalmers,  F. 
S.  A. 

John  Foster's  Essays. 

Universal  Dictionary,  by  Dr.  J.  Thomas,  London. 

The  Imperial  Dictionary  of  Universal  Biography. 

New  Testament  Illustrations. 

Youth's  Gleaner. 

New  Encyclopedia  of  Prose  Illustrations,  Foster. 

The  Modern  British  Essayists. 

A  Volume  of  Funeral  Sermons  on  Whitefield,  8vo.,  1770. 

Hawkins'  Missions  of  Church  of  England. 

Bishop  Butler's  Works. 

Porter  on  Revivals. 

Buck's  Religious  Anecdotes. 

Sketches  of  Eloquent  Preachers. 

Sketches  of  Presbyterian  Church. 


LIST    OF   AUTHORS.  VII 

e 

Dr.  Gill^tt's  History  Presbyterian  Chmch,  2  vols. 

History  of  Presbyterian  Church  Throughout  the  World. 
Arvine's  Cyclopedia  of  Moral  and  Religious  Anecdotes. 
Dr.  Sprague's  Annals  American  Pulpit. 
Cowper's  Poems. 
Walpole's  Letters. 

The  Priest,  The  Puritan,  and  The  Preacher. 
Religious  Ceremonies  and  Customs. 
Revival  Sketches  and  Maiuial. 
Foote's  Sketches  of  North  Carolina. 
Allison's  Modern  Europe,  5  vols. 
The  Christian  Preacher,  2  vols. 
Evangelists  of  the  Church,  Headley. 
Sketches  of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Whitefield. 
Hand  Book  of  Revivals. 
The  Great  Revival  of  1800,  Rev.  Dr.  Spear. 
The  London  Spectator. 
Blackwood's  Edinburgh  Magazine. 
Edinburgh  PvCview. 
Princeton  Review. 
The  New  Englander. 
The  Christian  Examiner. 
The  Literary  and  Theological  Review. 
The  North  American  Review. 
The  Christian  Spectator. 
The  Christian  Review.  c- 

Eraser's  Magazine. 

Centennial   Commemoration  of  Whitefield's  Death,  Newbury- 
port,  Mass. 

Zell's  Encyclopedia.  ^ 

London  Encyclopedia. 
Encyclopedia  Britannica. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

PAca. 
A  flaming  fire.      A  big  light.      Many  lighted.     Many  warmed.     Keep  it 

burning.     Whitefield  in  every  house.     His  character  as  a  preacher  and 

orator.     A  martyr  for  Jesus.     A  flame  of  love.     Source  of  his  povi^er,  love 

and  fire.     Struck  fresh  life  into  a  dead  church.     A  dead  corpse  stands  on 

its  feet.      Garner  his  life  and   remains.      Let  it  fly.     Condition  of  tlie 

Church  when  he  began  to  preach.     Piety  very  lovv^.     A  converted  minister 

a  rare  tiling.     Christianity  considered  "fictitious."     Praying  to  man  instead 

of  God.     Testimony  of  Toplady,  Bishop  Butler,  Wesley  and  Dr.  Watson.       3 

CHAPTER  I. 
whitefield's  birth  and  boyhood. 
pA-ery  nation  has  its  great  men.  Demosthenes,  Cicero,  Edwards,  Whitefield. 
His  Birtli  and  Parentage.  Robert  Raikes.  Hooper,  the  martyr.  One 
bright  light  dies,  another  rises.  Distinguished  men  of  humble  birth. 
Little  George  orphaned  at  two.  "Always  a  good  boy."  Object  of  much 
]iarental  affection.  Much  expected  of  him.  Hated  instruction.  His 
"  roguish  tricks."  Tender  heart.  Goes  to  school.  (Three  years  at 
Grammar  School.)  "  Born  an  orator."  His  eloquence  begins  to  develop. 
Fond  of  the  stage.  Praised  and  paid  for  his  performances.  Saves  money 
and  buys  a  good  book.  (The  stage  debauches.)  Quits  school  and  comes 
home.  Enters  hotel  as  a"PoT  BoY  and  Common  Dravvyer."  CleaMS 
rooms.  Unconscious  of  his  great  power.  Always  wanted  to  be  a 
preacher.  Took  charge  of  a  hotel.  Washing  mops  and  composing  ser- 
mons.    Encouraging  example  for  boys 19 

CHAPTER     II. 

HIS    EDUCATION   AND   CONVERSION. 

He  longs  to  go  to  college.  His  "  extraordinary  talents."  His  academic  ed- 
ucation. Great  progress  in  the  classics.  "  One  penny  left."  "  Will  you 
go  to  Oxford,  George?"  "With  ALL  MY  heart."  "The  Rubicon  is 
pa.st."  Tender  disposition.  Early  religious  impressions.  Exchanged 
Novels  for  Thomas  a  Kempis.  Set  out  to  be  religious  at  sixteen.  An 
Episcopalian.  Enters  college  as  a  "servitor"  at  eighteen.  Paid  his  own 
way.     Got  into  bad  company.     Went  to  churcJi  for  sport.     Low  morals  at 

(i) 


ii  CONTENTS. 

FACKi 

Oxford.  Out  in  the  cold.  Persecuted.  Lilies  among  thorns.  The 
"Holy  Club."  The  Wesleys.  Origin  of  Methodism.  Read  Law's 
Serious  Call.  Compassion  for  the  poor.  Befriended  by  Charles  Wesley. 
Joined  the  "  Holy  Club."  "  Lived  by  rule."  Redeems  the  time.  Read 
"The  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul."  Discovered  "the  true  religion."  "Saw 
a  great  light."  Feels  he  "t?iust  be  born  again."  His  severe  pangs  of 
regeneration.  Turning  point  in  his  salvation.  Fasted  and  prayed  him- 
self almost  to  death.  Spent  whole  days  and  weeks  in  prayer.  Wore 
patched  clothes  and  dirty  shoes.  Sick  seven  weeks.  His  "  glorious  visi- 
tation." Deeper  convictions.  Prays  over  his  Greek  Testament.  Studies  -  ^ 
Bible  closer.  Earnest  searching  for  Jesus.  Sees  justification  by  faith. 
The  struggle  increases.  His  conversion.  Unspeakable  joy.  Thank  God. 
His  friends  make  light  of  it.     His  joy  in  self-denial 24 

CHAPTER     III. 

HIS   ORDINATION. 

Prostrated  by  his  severe  pangs  of  regeneration,  needs  rest.  At  the  head  of 
the  "  Holy  Club."  Gets  ;,f  20  a  year.  Begins  to  live  and  work  for  Christ. 
Wants  religious  friends.  His  first  convert.  Formed  a  society.  Reads 
Bible  on  his  knees.  Prays  over  every  word.  Studies  Burkitt  and  Henry. 
His  sweet  communion  and  blessed  assurance.  His  work  enlarges.  Kind- 
ness to  the  poor.     Visited  prisoners  in  jail 36 

CHAPTER   IV. 

HIS  FIRST  SERMON. 
His  unbosoming  himself  reveals  the  secret  of  his  strength.  His  big  tears 
and  pent-up  desires  raise  high  expectations.  Feels  his  own  weakness. 
His  first  sermon  a  complete  success.  "  The  effect  was  wonderful."  It 
set  fifteen  mad.  It  was  on  "The  Benefit  of  Religious  Society."  En- 
joyed God's  presence.  Awed  at  first,  "The  fire  kindled  as  he  advanced." 
A  few  mocked.  "  Most  seemed  struck."  Began  preaching  with  one  ser- 
mon. It  established  his  character  at  once.  His  glorious  letter.  He 
preached  the  following  Sabbath  with  gi-eat  power.  Returned  to  Oxford. 
Received  with  great  joy.  Received  the  degree  of  "A.  B."  Took  charge 
of  charity  schools.     Called  away  to  preach 44 

CHAPTER    V. 

HIS  FIRST  LABORS  IN  LONDON  AND  ENGLAND. 
His  vast  field.  Pants  to  thrust  in  the  sickle.  Called  to  London.  Sneered 
at.  Everybody  carried  away  with  his  sermon.  "  The  boy  PARSON." 
Visited  the  soldiers.  Preached  to  the  prisoners.  Longs  to  go  to  America. 
Returns  to  Oxford,  Bought  Henry's  Commentary  with  a  present.  Goes 
to  Dummer  as  curate.  Dislikes  the  society  there.  Likes  it  and  profits  by 
it.     Redeems  the  time.     Declines  a  call  to  London.     The  Wesleys  urge 


CONTENTS.  Ill 

PAGB. 

him  to  goto  America.     "The  die  is  cast."     "I  will  go."     His  heart 
leaped  with  joy 48 

CHAPTER    VI. 

HIS    WEEVlNc;    KAREWKLL   TO    LONDON. 

The  young  Boanerges  gets  ready.  Sorrowful  parting.  His  friends  wept 
sore.  Had  large  offers  to  not  go.  His  aged  mother  wept.  Offered  a  fine, 
rich  church  to  stay.  Nothing  moved  him.  Bids  farewell  to  Oxford. 
Consults  Bp.  Benson.  Revival  at  Bristol.  Whole  city  movetl.  Preached 
before  the  corporation.  Feels  his  pride  and  ambition  rising.  Prays  for 
humility.  The  word  cuts  like  lightning.  Similar  impressions  at  Bath  and 
Gloucester.  Big  collections.  Returned  to  London.  Consults  General 
Oglethorpe  and  Georgia  Trustees.  Interviews  the  Bishop  and  Archbishop, 
London.  Very  enthusiastic.  Longs  to  set  sail.  Sailing  delayed.  Labors 
in  London.  Goes  to  the  country.  Precious  refreshings.  Exults  in  God, 
in  a  storm.  Returns  to  Bristol.  Received  with  great  honor.  City  elec- 
trified with  his  preaching.  Floods  of  tears.  Similar  results  at  Bath. 
Powerful  effects  of  his  .sermon  on  Regeneration.  "All  London  alarmed." 
Increased  zeal.  .Six  o'clock  morning  sermons.  Preached  to  London 
charity  schools.  A  great  rush.  Streets  crowded  long  before  day,  going  to 
church.  Prayed  all  night.  Farewell  to  London.  "All  drowned  in  tears." 
Opposition  quails.  "  God  conquers  all."  '^A  spiritical pickpocket^  Dry 
bones  shake.  Sinners  flock  to  Jesus.  The  doctrines  he  preached.  Thou- 
sands pray  for  him  and  hugged  him  in  their  arms.     Farewell 5a 

CHAPTER     VII. 

HIS  FIRST  VOYAGE  TO  AMERICA. 
Successful  in  England,  he  embarks  for  America,  1737.  Ship  full  of  soldiers. 
His  "New  Charge"  Cards,  cursing,  swearing.  His  cold  reception  on 
board.  Treated  as  an  impostor.  Ship  a  gambling  house.  Fled  to  the 
hills  for  prayer.  Conquers  the  opposition.  Visits  the  sick  soldiers.  Re- 
proves swearing  othcers.  The  Captain  gave  him  his  cabin.  Organized  a 
Soldiers'  Bible  Class.  Preached  twice  the  second  Sabbath  on  board. 
Catechised  soldiers.  Preached  twice  every  day.  "The  Whitaker"  de- 
tained. Fast  Day.  A  sweet  Sabbath  at  Deal.  Whitefield  sailed  out  by 
same  wind  Wesley  sailed  in.  Narrow  escape.  Catechised  children. 
Preached  daily  to  the  soldiers.  Preached  Hell  and  Justification  by  Faith. 
Crawled  on  his  knees  to  visit  the  sick.  Cheerful  in  a  storm.  Reaches 
Gibraltar.  Kindly  received  by  the  Governor.  The  Gibraltar  Methodists. 
A  glorious  light.  His  soul  knit  to  them.  Prayed  in  caves  and  rocks. 
Farewell  to  Gibraltar.  Many  wept.  Canvasses  hearts  "  o«^  by  o«^."  A 
school  on  board.  Fast  Day.  Preached  on  swearing.  Soldiers  wept. 
Sin  much  abated.  Preaches  on  accompanying  ships.  Cards  and  bad 
books  thrown  overboard.     Swearing  soldiers  converted.     Whitefield  and 


iv  CONTENTS. 


PAGB. 


the  shark.  "  IVajy  of  duty,  the  way  of  safety. ^^  "Breaking  children's 
wills."  Preaches  on  three  ships  .same  day.  He  gets  sick.  Three  ships 
join  in  the  service.  Ship  cook  dies.  The  cabin  becomes  a  Bethel,  the 
deck  a  Church,  the  stern  a  School.  A  great  Reformation.  "What  a 
change!"     Walks  by  faith.     Reaches  Savannah 6i 

CHAPTER     VIII. 

WHITEFIELD'S  first  visit  to  AMERICA, 
Landed  at  Savannah,  May  7,  1738.  Thanks  God  for  his  safe  arrival.  Very 
kindly  received.  Preached  the  next  day.  Visits  an  old  sick  Indian.  Sur- 
veys the  little  colony.  Determines  to  erect  an  Orphan  House.  Visits 
the  Saltzburgers.  Shares  with  their  orphans.  Sung  and  prayed  with 
them.  Gels  sick — gets  well.  Wesley's  success.  America  not  such  a  hard 
place.  "  Painted  lions."  Visits  from  house  to  house.  Wins  people's 
hearts.  Preaches  daily  at  five  in  morning.  Travels  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles  to  visit  families.  Visits  Frederica.  Heartily  received.  Stirred  up 
the  people  to  build  a  church.  A  lost  man.  "  Looked  for  persecution,  but 
received  like  an  angel  of  God."  Loaded  with  presents.  Returns  to  Sa- 
annah.  Whitefield  and  the  dying  infidel.  Farewell  to  Savannah.  Amer- 
ica a  good  school  to  learn  Christ  in.  Many  warm  friends.  His  success 
in  America.     Slept  on  the  ground 75 

CHAPTER     IX. 

HIS  RETURN  TO  ENGLAND. 
Sailed  September  9,  1738.  Evil  forebodings.  Slorm  at  sea.  "All  was 
terror."  Deep  distress.  His  soul  wrapt  in  peace.  Sublime  victory  of 
faith.  Put  on  short  rations.  Rejoices  in  trials.  His  great  heroism.  Pre- 
fers scanty  supplies.  Better  for  the  soul.  D.irk  clouds  thicken.  Spiritual 
desertions.  Glories  in  tribulations.  Filled  with  joy  unspeakable.  De- 
fies the  devil.  Rises  above  fear.  A  Jonah  on  board.  Half  starved. 
Brought  very  low.  Thanks  God  for  it.  Prays  to  be  scourged.  Very 
happy.  Long,  stormy,  distressing  voyage.  Good  for  the  soul.  Sung 
and  prayed  at  sight  of  land.  Resignation  best  preparation  for  blessings. 
But  one-half  pint  of  water  left.  "Great  straits."  Learned  to  endure 
hardness.  Convicted  Captain's  prayer.  W.  fears  treachery  of  his  own 
heart.  Reaches  Ireland.  Preaches  in  Limerick.  Kissed  by  the  Bishop. 
An  Irish  cabin,  with  pigs,  dogs,  geese,  men,  women  and  children  in  it. 
Preaches  at  Dublin.  Highly  honored.  Refreshed.  Prays  for  humility. 
Reached  England  November  12,  much  encouraged 8a 

CHAPTER     X. 

NEW  MEASURES  IN  LONDON — BREAKING  ICE  IN  BRISTOL. 
Fears  "The  fiery  trial  of  Popularity."     "  Whetup"  with  trials,  reaches  Lon- 
don December  8,  1738.     Finds  his  churches  prospering.     Favorably  re- 


CONTENTS,  V 

ceived  by  the  Bishop  and  Archbishop,  Pulpits  shut  against  him.  Coun- 
sels with  Wesley.  Prays  all  night.  Filled  with  the  Spirit.  Overwhelmed 
with  God's  presence,  cries,  "  Glory  be  to  God !"  Happy  Love  Feast. 
Many  fell  to  the  ground.  His  "  Happiest  New  Year's."  "  The  Epoch  of 
Methodism."  "Full  of  God."  Holds  a  conference  with  Methodists. 
Big  expectations.  "Always  on  the  stretch  for  God."  Loves  his  enemies. 
Meets  with  little  Praying  Bands.  Goes  to  Oxford.  His  ordination.  "A 
day  of  fat  things."  Presented  five  hundred  acres  land  for  Orphan  House. 
London  churches  shut  against  him.  Opposition  helps  on.  Preaches  ex- 
tempore. God  gave  a  heaven  on  earth.  Action  the  best  remedy  for  de- 
pression. Preached  in  a  hotel.  "Just  beginning  to  be  a  Christian." 
Many  converts  in  London.  Itinerates.  Opposers  struck  dumb.  Triumphs 
everywhere.  Threatened  with  excommunication.  Awed  by  no  threats, 
preaches  on.  Field  preaching.  The  ice  broken.  First  field  sermon.  ' 
The  Rubicon  is  passed.  A  glorious  victory.  New  era  dawns  on  the 
Church.  Clergy  frowned,  but  God  smiled.  Gagged  in  the  city,  fled  to 
the  country.  His  boldness.  Preaches  to  acres  of  poor  colliers,  out 
doors.  Wesley's  views.  The  fire  kindled.  "All  devils  in  hell  can't 
put  it  out."  Breaking  the  ice,  broke  Satan's  kingdom.  The  poor  colliers 
— their  tears  made  "  white  gutters."  Overcome  with  the  glory.  Sent 
for  Wesley.  He  came  and  took  the  field.  Eventful  crisis.  Whitefield 
broke  the  way,  Wesley  followed.  Twenty  thousand  weeping  over  their 
sins.  Whitefield  a  man  of  prayer.  Prayer  Meetings  a  source  of  his 
strength — his  finishing  school.  His  mighty  impulse.  Overwhelmed 
with  joy.  God  hangs  greatest  weights  on  smallest  wires.  His  New  Meas- 
ures— New  Doctrines.  "Alarmed  all  London."  Shook  the  devil's  throne. 
Revived  the  churches  of  two  continents 90 

CHAPTER     XI. 

FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND — GREAT  FIELD  VICTORIES, 
flushed  with  victory.  New  measures  and  new  doctrines  established.  Goes 
on  conquering.  Wonderful  success  with  the  poor  colliers.  Fourteen  thou- 
sand at  Rose  Green.  His  soul  expands.  Thronged  with  inquirers.  Goes 
to  Wales.  Scoffers  trail  a  dead  fox.  Howell  Harris.  Baptized  with 
Welsh  fire,  returned  to  England.  Says  "The  devil  is  blind."  Fears  noth- 
ing but  a  calm.  Preaches  to  twenty  thousand  at  Rose  Green.  Scoffers 
prayed  to  silence.  People  weep  over  him.  Breaking  heads  and  hearts. 
Welcomed  back  to  Bristol.  Loaded  with  mites.  Many  converts  at  Kings- 
wood.  Returns  to  Wales.  Big  dinner  at  Kingswood.  Prayer  for  a 
school.  Glories  in  field-preaching.  Stilled  a  tempest.  Many  starved  out. 
Preached  to  thirty  thousand  in  the  rain  undisturbed.  Baptized  an  old 
Quaker.  "  Dead  as  a  stone."  Hurries  to  Oxford.  Shocked  at  back- 
sliders. Wrings  his  heart  with  grief.  Kindly  received  at  London.  Pow- 
erful demonstrations  of  the  Spirit.  "  Floods  of  tears."  "  Sweats  through 
and  through."     Strengthened  with  trials.     Great  Jield  victories  at  Moor- 


\i  CONTENTS. 

fields  and  Kennington  Common.  His  life  threatened.  Awed  by  no 
threats,  preached  on.  Grand  success.  Congregation  of  30,0CX).  Singing 
heard  two  miles,  preaching  one.  "Whitefield's  Mount."  His  power 
and  congregations  increase.  Fifty  thousand  at  Kennington  Common. 
Big  collection.  More  than  he  could  carry.  Congregation  of  sixty  thou- 
sand. Periam  thought  crazy  because  he  prayed  loud.  Scoffers  awed  to 
silence.  Visits  Dr.  Doddridge.  Reproved  unsound  ministers.  Called 
them  "  blind  guides."  Hot  controversy.  Big  congregations.  Sixty  thou- 
sand "  drenched  in  tears."  Eighty  thousand.  Changes  his  base.  Goes  to 
Blackheath.  Almost  drowned  out  with  weeping.  People  sung  and  prayed 
all  night.  Heaven  on  earth.  First  Methodist  Seminary.  Swearing 
turned  to  praising.  "  Half  beast  and  half  devil."  Mobbed.  Scoffers 
cowed  down  by  his  sermon.  Received  a  blow.  Returned  to  London. 
Received  with  great  joy.  Preached  at  a  horse  race.  Held  the  people  by 
his  eloquence.  His  farewell  sermon.  Thousands  burst  into  tears.  But 
a  babe  in  Christ ,  . 103 

CHAPTER  XII, 
HIS  SECOND  VOYAGE  AND  VISIT  TO  AMERICA, 
His  success  in  England.  ;^ic)00  for  Orphan  House.  Sailed  August  14,  1739. 
Self-examination,  The  further  he  went  the  worse  he  got.  Called  him- 
self "a  dead  dog."  Deeply  humbled.  His  strong  confession.  Longs  for 
the  stake.  Inward  struggles.  His  rocky  heart  breaks — floods  of  tears 
gush  out.  Sweet  trials.  Strong  faith.  Suffering  a  great  privilege.  Ready 
to  leap  into  a  fiery  furnace.  His  "  splendid  sins."  Reached  Philadelphia 
in  October.  Rented  a  cheap  house.  "Got  fixed  up."  Preaches  daily, 
"Endued  with  power  from  on  high."  Thronged  with  inquirers.  Dined 
with  William  Penn.  Visited  by  old  Mr.  Tennent.  Goes  to  New  York. 
Heard  Gilbert  Tennent's  searching  sermon.  Finds  himself  but  a  babe  in 
Christ.  New  York  pulpits  shut  against  him.  Preached  with  great  lib- 
erty. Left  New  York  under  deep  concern.  Deeply  concerned  for  his 
mother 120 

CHAPTER     XIII. 

TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH, 
Preached  as  he  went.  Spoke  strongly  against  unconverted  ministers.  One 
quit  preaching.  Another  prayed  and  was  converted.  The  Log  College, 
Cradle  of  Presbyterianism,  Preached  with  melting  effect.  Sweet  com- 
munion with  Mr,  Tennent,  Germ  of  New  Jersey  College,  Goes  to 
Philadelphia.  His  journals  translated  into  Dutch,  Revival  in  Philadel- 
phia, Prayer  meetings.  Farewell  to  Philadelphia,  November  29,  10,000 
"wept  bitterly,"  Great  revivals  in  Philadelphia,  Deep  affection  for  him. 
Court  adjourned  to  hear  him.  His  family  goes  by  sea,  he  by  land  to 
preach.  Cards  strongly  condemned.  Grieved  him  to  see  sinners  dancing 
over  hell.     Lunched  at  Port  Tobacco,     Dined  with  Governor  of  Virginia. 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGB. 

Favorably  impressed.  Kindly  received  in  North  Carolina.  Surrounded 
with  howling  wolves.  Visits  the  negroes.  Thinks  they  can  learn  fast  as 
whites.  Swims  his  horse.  South  Carolina  more  polite.  Broke  up  a 
dance.  Baptized  a  child.  Starts  by  day-break.  Alarmed  by  a  negro 
dance.  Lost  his  old  friend  Gardner.  Charleston  ladies  gay.  Levity 
turned  into  seriousness.  The  gayest  weep.  His  manner  of  preaching. 
Took  Mr.  Smith's  heart.  Sails  in  an  open  canoe.  Sleeps  on  the  ground. 
Prayed  with  negroes  after  midnight.  Encouraged  by  news  from  New 
York.  Gen.  Oglethorpe  gave  him  ;^I50  for  a  church.  His  altercation 
with  Mr.  Garden.  Ordered  out  of  his  house.  Whitefield  bowed  him- 
self out •* 125 

CHAPTER     XIV. 

WHITFIELD'S  ORPHAN  HOUSE. 
Its  origin.  His  compassion.  Its  original  mover.  Model.  English  sympa- 
thy for.  500  acres  of  land  granted  for  it.  Nucleus  of.  Situation  and 
plan  of.  Foundation  laid.  A  work  of  faith.  Whitefield's  hobby.  A 
house  of  mercy.  First  collection  for  it  in  America,  ^350.  Laid  first  brick 
March  25,  1740.  Big  collections  fur  it  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York. 
Goes  to  New  England  for  funds.  $1,000  at  once.  Deep  anxiety  for  it. 
"  I  liang  on  Jesus."  Goes  home  for  a  wife  and  funds.  70  orphans. 
Teachers.  Order  and  piety.  English,  Scots,  Dutch,  French.  American 
boys  and  girls.  He  preaches  to  children's  hearts.  Brick  and  provisions 
stolen.  Indians  supplied  them.  Revival.  No  fund  for  it.  Built  by  faith. 
A  little  farm  garden.  Big  family,  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Raised  own  pro- 
visions. Invaded  by  the  Spaniards.  Fasted  and  prayed.  Gen.  Oglethorpe 
drove  them  off.  W.'s  devotion  to  orphans.  Prefers  slavery  to  seeing  them 
suffer.  Weighed  down  with  cares.  Sails  for  Bermuda,  1748.  Proposes 
to  make  Belhesda  a  College  and  Seminary.  Visits  it  again  in  1754,  Pros- 
perous. Another  grant  of  two  thousand  acres  of  land  for  it.  King  re- 
fuses a  charter.  Its  "broad  bottom."  Determines  on  an  academy.  Two 
large  wings  added.  Governor  and  officials  go  to  hear  him.  Goes  north  to 
recruit,  and  died,  Sept.  30,  1770.  Willed  Orphan's  House  to  Lady  Hun- 
tington. Her  care  for  it.  Destroyed  by  lightning.  Rebuilt.  Still  con- 
tinued for  its  original  purpose 139 

CHAPTER     XV. 

HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK. 
Farewell  to  Savannah.  Sailed  north.  Reached  New  Castle,  April  13,  1740. 
Preached  twice  same  day.  People  went  twenty  miles  to  hear.  Embraced 
with  tenderest  affection.  Went  to  Philadelphia.  Churches  shut  against 
him.  Fled  to  the  fields.  Large  congregations.  "  Have  I  A  soul  ?" 
Revival.  Scoffers  silenced.  Drinking  club  broken  up.  Satan  losing 
ground.  Established  a  colored  school.  All  Philadelphia  "  moved  at  his 
I* 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


PAGR 


coming."  Falsely  accused.  Society  of  young  men  organized.  Youny 
women  also.  The  work, increases.  "Religion  is  all  the  talk."  "  Pifty 
negroes  converted."  Dr.  Rodgers,  a  converted  boy,  embraced.  Philadel- 
phia proposed  to  build  him  a  big  church.  Refused  it.  Organized  a 
church  of  one  hundred  and  forty  members,  Second  Presbyterian,  Philadel- 
I'iiia.  Great  change  in  the  people.  Franklin  said  "Itseemedall  the  world 
w.ts  growing  religious."  Dancing  school  closed.  Goes  to  New  York, 
Preached  as  he  went.  Motto — ''No  nestling  this  side  heaven.''''  Always 
revived.  Soars  along  at  feet  of  Jesus.  Building  on  frames.  Lifted  on 
his  horse.  P'arewell  to  New  York.  Strikes  for  Georgia.  Tennents  go 
twenty  miles  to  meet  him.  A  sweet  ride.  Big  stir  in  New  York.  "All 
was  life  and  power."  "  People  hung  on  his  lips."  Nottingham  re- 
vival. One  thousand  cried  out.  Some  fainted.  Overpowered  with  God's 
love.  "  It  almost  took  my  life."  Another  Pentecost.  Still  greater  at  Fogg's 
Manor.  Wonderful.  Looked  like  going  to  judgment.  Could  scarcely 
get  on  his  horse.  His  heart  ready  to  burst.  His"' tears  of  blood."  Over- 
whelmed with  joy  at  Savannah.  Thought  he  would  have  died.  Anath- 
emas of  Garden.  Sweet  comintjncement  at  Bethesda.  Great  work  at 
Charleston.  Where  opposition  strongest,  success  greatest.  Word  ran  like 
lightning.  Baptists,  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians  all  communed  lo- 
getiier.  Changed  his  shirt  every  sermon.  Hard  trials,  but  God  gave  iiiiu 
victory.  Results.  Ladies  dress  plainer.  Ashamed  of  jewelry,  hide  it. 
Converted  planters.  Sued  and  suspended  for  praying  his  own  prayers,  in 
Charleston,  1740.  He  appealed.  Refused  the  sacrament.  Thanks  (iod. 
Walking  between  the  Cherubims  of  glory.  Expected  martyrdom.  His 
submission.     "  Sweet  to  wear  a  martyr  crown." 1 48 

CHAPTER     XVI. 

WHITEFIELD  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 
Sailed  for  Boston  August  24,  1740.  Prospects  encouraging.  Revival  ex- 
pected. Mr.  Clapp.  Interviews  Gov.  Belcher.  Reached  Boston  unwell. 
Preached  alternately  in  the  church  and  on  the  Common.  False  alarm. 
Five  killed.  Harvard  College.  One  hundred  students.  Tempted.  Over- 
joyed. Big  collection.  Preached  to  negroes.  Boy  going  to  Whitefield's 
God.  Preaches  to  children.  Visits  a  dying  little  girl.  Their  conversa- 
tion. Little  girl  converted.  Unconverted  preachers.  Dead  congrega- 
tions. Offering  strange  fire.  Wants  nothing  but  Christ.  Farewell  to 
Boston.  Thirty  thousand.  Governor  wept — -kissed  Whitefield.  Ex- 
horted to  stir  up  preachers  and  rulers.  Befriends  Princeton  College. 
"  Putting  fire  to  tinder."  At  Northampton.  Visits  President  Edwards. 
Great  revival.  How  it  began.  A  gay  young  lady  converted.  Whole 
town  full  of  God.  Spread  like  a  flash  of  lightning.  Character  of  Ed- 
wards. Spoke  to  his  children.  Preached  for  him.  All  wept  profusely. 
A  sweet  couple.     Children  dress  plain.     Put  W.  in  notion  of  getting  mar- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

PAGB. 

ried.  Former  lires  slirred.  His  soul  knit  to  them.  Thrown  oil  his  horse. 
Impulses.  Great  Revival  foUowfed.  Appropriate  sermons.  Religion 
all  the  talk.  Much  crying  out,  faintings,  etc.  Children's  refreshing  meet- 
ing. Edwards'  ecstatic  joy.  WJiitefield  goes  to  New  Haven.  Strikes 
for  New  York.  Goes  preaching.  Warns  unconverted  ministers.  Gov. 
Tallcott  weeps.  Power  with  unconverted  ministers.  Likes  New  Eng- 
land. Opposes  preaching  w  itli  notes.  Sign  of  coldness.  Light  of  Uni- 
versities becomes  darkness.  Towerful  revival — unprecedented.  Twenty 
Boston  ministers  converted.  Picking  holes  in  coats  and  hearts.  Received 
as  an  angel  of  God.  Head,  hands,  heart  full  of  Christ.  Dr.  Prince's 
opinion  of  him.  A  great  "Wooer  of  souls."  Many  converts.  Great 
change  in  Boston.  One  hundred  and  twenty  churches  in  twenty  years. 
New  England  won  his  heart 162 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

TOUR  FROM  NEW  ENGLAND  TO  GEORGIA. 
Preaches  by  the  way.  Big  stir  in  New  York.  Dejected.  Preaches  with 
great  power.  Carried  all  before  it.  Weeping  congregations.  Over- 
whelmed him.  Solemn  wedding.  "Obliged  to  his  enemies."  Heart 
strings  breaking.  "  A  boy  cut  to  the  heart."  The  boy  preaches.  Deep 
impression.  Wrapt  in  Jesus.  Tennent  blows  up  the  fire  in  Boston.  Pow- 
erful work.  Rev.  Aaron  Burr.  Goes  to  Philadelphia.  God's  glory  fills 
the  house.  "  Set  America  in  a  flame."  Converted  infidel  weeps.  God 
struck  his  heart.  Not  sectarian.  No  sectarianism  in  heaven.  Revival  at 
Whiteclay  Creek.  Fruitful  excursion.  Touching  at  Charleston.  Reaches 
Bethesda,_  December  14.  Overwhelmed  in  prayer.  Happy  Christmas  at 
Bethesda.  Charleston  people  exceeding  kind.  Charge  of  libeling  the 
clergy.  Was  sued.  Plead  guilty.  Gave  bail.  Rejoices  in  it.  Farewell 
to  Charleston.     Sailed  for  London 181 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

HIS  SEPARATION  FROM  WESLEY. 
Having  revived  American  churches,  sailed  for  England,  January  16,  1741. 
Readied  Falmouth  March  11.  Preached  at  Kennington  Common  follow- 
ing Sabbath.  But,  oh  !  what  a  scene ! — ^Satan  had  ruined  his  societies. 
Formerly  had  20,000,  now  only  loo.  Strange  prejudice  against  him.  People 
refuse  to  look  at  him.  Deplores  separation.  Threatened  with  arrest  for 
debt.  Heart-rending  scene.  His  heart  bled  over  it.  Conquered  the  oppo- 
sition. Whitefield  a  Calvinist,  Wesley  an  Arminian.  Hence  they  dif- 
fered. Both  tried  to  avoid  a  separation.  His  affectionate  letter  to  Wesley. 
Wesley's  reply.  The  conflict  deepens.  Wesley's  sermon  against  election.  Its 
effects.  Whitefield's  reply  to  it.  Greatly  blessed.  His  sweet  assurance. 
Looks  for  worse  trials.  Strong  faith.  "  Makes  a  bed  of  flame  a  bed  of 
down."   Whitefield's  pointed  letter  to  Wesley.   Prays  for  harmony.   Abhors 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

preaching  against  Wesley,  "  I  had  rather  die."  Writes  against  him.  Wes- 
ley tore  up  his  letter.  The  doctrinal  chasm  widens.  Whitefield  girding 
for  the  battle.  The  breach  consummated.  Each  one  blames  the  other. 
Looks  up  his  scattered  sheep.  They  soon  return.  The  Tabernacle  built. 
Revival  followed.  Sent  for  lay  preachers.  The  farther  we  go  in  relig- 
ion, the  cooler  yet  the  more  earnest.  All  peace  and  sweetness.  Jesus 
rides  on  conquering.  Threatened  with  arrest  for  debt.  Driven  to  his 
knees.  Assured  of  help.  His  Letters.  All  rich  as  cream.  Good  news 
from  New  England.  Field  preaching  his  plan.  Great  success  in  London. 
Wesley's  Calvinism.  The  separation  was  short.  The  breach  v(fas  soon 
healed.  Wesley  said,  "  Let  controversy  die."  Whitefield  said,  "  Amen." 
"  Let  us  bear  and  forbear."  Though  thus  united,  "  each  one  pursued  his 
own  course." 190 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

HIS  FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND. 
Whitefield  rising.  Buoyant  and  daring,  he  couldn't  be  kept  down.  Reaches 
Edinburgh  July  30,  1741.  Preaches  for  the  Erskines  yfrj/.  "Received 
very  lovingly."  "The  ;'«j-///«^  of  Bibles  surprised  him."  Seceders  strive 
to  win  him  to  their  party.  Preaches  in  Edinburgh.  Meets  the  Seceder  Pres- 
bytery. An  "inside  workman."  "The  devil's  people"  most  need 
preaching.  Willing  to  preach  in  the  Pope's  pulpit.  "  Narrow  spirits." 
" Foundation  too  narrow."  He  " retired,  wept,  prayed."  "Seen  an  end 
of  all  perfection."  Received  with  open  arms  and  open  hearts  at  Edin- 
burgh. Great  revival.  "  Three  hundred  seeking  after  Jesus."  His  ser- 
mons printed  daily.  "  Everyvi'here  Jesus  gets  the  victory."  Congrega- 
tion of  twenty  thousand.  Twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  orphans.  His 
motto,  "  Poor,  yet  making  many  rich."  "  I  make  no  purse."  Christ's 
love  struck  him  dumb.  Fifty  conversions  in  Glasgow.  Preached  seven 
times  one  day.  New  "  prayer  meetings  everywhere."  "A  flaming  fire 
for  God.''     Whitefield  next  to  Knox.     Left  Scotland  for  Wales 203 

CHAPTER    XX. 

HIS  COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE. 
Manner  of  courting  peculiar.  Left  it  all  with  the  Lord.  Courted  by  letter. 
Popped  the  question  first  letter.  Didn't  believe  in  love.  His  first  love- 
letter.  Awkward  in  winning  a  woman's  heart.  Failed  to  get  first  one 
he  picked  on.  He  asked  her  many  hard  questions.  He  wanted  one  dead 
to  everything  but  Jesus  Christ.  Married  an  old  widow — a  Welsh  lady  of 
Abergavenny — neither  rich  nor  beautiful,  but  pious.  Her  courage. 
"  Now,  George, /Azy ///I?  man  for  God.''  The  enemy  fled.  Victory  on 
the  Lord's  side.  His  domestic  life.  Different  opinions  about  it.  His 
affection  for  his  wife.  Drove  her  into  a  deep  ditch.  Not  hurt  much. 
Took  no  bridal  tour — no,  but  went  right  on  with  his  work.  Their  first 
born.     Born  when  he  was  from  home.     So  poor,  borrowed  furniture  to 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE. 

begin  to  keep  house.     The  child  died.     He  preached  on  next  day.     Said 

"  weeping  must  not  hinder  sowing." 209 

CHAPTER     XXI, 

HIS  PITCHED  BATTLE  WITH  SATAN. 
Few  more  sliirmishes  first.  Warmed  with  Welsh  fire,  returns  to  England. 
Electrified  Bristol.  Nearer  Christ  than  ever.  Corresponds  with  the  nobility. 
Things  prosperous  at  London.  "  The  fire  kindles."  "  Jesus  rides  on  tri- 
umphantly." "  Peace  flows  like  a  river."  Itinerates.  Love  feast  at  Kings- 
wood.  Success  in  England,  Wales,  Scotland.  "  Free  grace  fires  his  soul." 
Discontinues  his  Journals.  Rejoices  over  a  converted  lord.  "  What  sweet 
company  is  Jesus."  Another  skirmish  at  Gloucester.  "A  glorious  Pentecost 
at  London."  "  The  Pitched  Battle."  At  Moorfields  on  Whitsuntide. 
"Got  the  start  of  the  devil."  Ten  thousand  flocked  around  him.  Preaches 
again  at  noon.  "  IV/iat  a  scene  ./"  Twenty-five  thousand  white  for  Beelze- 
bub's harvest.  Mobbed.  "  Honored  with  stones,  rotten  eggs  and  dead  cats." 
"  His  soul  was  among  lions."  People  "turned  into  lambs."  Makes  an- 
other attack.  Enemy  being  greatly  reinforced,  made  repeated  assaults. 
VVhitefield  pours  in  his  heavy  artillery,  volley  after  volley.  The  enemy 
roared,  the  people  prayed,  till  victory  was  complete.  One  thousand 
awakened — three  hundred  and  fifty  "  snatched  out  of  the  veiy  jaws  of  the 
devil."  Great  rejoicing.  Battle  lasted  three  hours.  The  world  eclipsed 
'n  oratory.  "The  devil  completely  out-generaled."  Grand  victory  !  The 
secret  of  his  success.  "His  wonderful  oratory."  The  people  "keep pruning." 
Labored  under  disadvantages.  Demosthenes.  Peter  on  the  day  of  Pen 
tecost,  had  every  advantage.  Peter  and  Whitefield  contrasted.  Changed 
his  base.  Renewed  the  attack.  Followed  up  the  victory.  "  Preached  in 
great  jeopardy."  Threatened  to  be  stabbed.  Narrow  escape.  "  Satan 
out-done  himself."     "  Half  devil  and  half  beast." 215 

CHAPTER     XXII. 

HIS  SECOND  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND. 
Flushed  with  victory,  returns  to  Scotland.  Expects  greater  things  there. 
Prayed  as  he  went.  Repelled  Satan's  fiery  darts.  Received  with  great 
joy.  Converts  slick  fast.  Great  commotion.  Preadied  with  unprece- 
dented power.  "Awakening  unspeakable."  Prays  without  ceasing  At 
Candiuslang.  Demonstrations  still  greater  than  ever.  Weeping  and  dis- 
tress inexpressible.  Cambuslang  communion.  Preached  to  twenty  thou- 
sand on  Saturday  willi  greaf  power.  So  crowded  upon,  had  to  desist. 
Preached  again  Monday  morning.  He  never  saw  the  like.  The  motion 
fled  as  quick  as  lightning.  Thousands  overwhelmed.  Some  sung  and 
prayed  all  night.  '■'■Keep  close  lo  Jesus.'''  Seceders'  fast  day  because  of 
W.'s  success.  Called  "  a  destroyer."  They  called  this  work  "  a  delusion.'^ 
"The  work  of   the  devil  "      Cambuslang  second  comvninion.     W.  very 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

PAG^ 

7nuch  stirred  up.  With  forty  thousand  people,  three  thousand  communi- 
cants, twenty-five  tables.  It  excelled  all  other  communions.  It  lasted 
till  night.  Communicants  rushed  to  the  table.  "  Never  saw  so  much  of 
heaven  on  earth."  Two  thousand  awakenings.  "Convulsions."  Four 
hundred  conversions.  Some  mocked.  Other  revivals  followed.  "  Trod 
.sin,  death  and  hell  under  his  feet."  Lives  by  faith.  Fears  neither  men 
nor  devils.  "  Prefers  Christ's  reproach  to  all  the  treasures  in  the  world." 
Pitied  the  Seceders.  Dead  to  self.  Whole-hearted  consecration.  Prayer 
for  Col .  Gardner 224 

CHAPTER     XXIII. 

HIS  OLD  BATTLE  FIELDS. 
CJieered  by  his  success  in  Scotland,  returns  to  England.  He  went  by  coach, 
his  wife  by  sea.  Persecution  still  rages.  Some  indicted  for  going  to  relig- 
ious societies.  "If  you  j^^zrz/^  us  we'll  go."  "  Live  on  grass."  Strong  de- 
votion to  his  orphans.  His  theological  course.  "The  Bible  and  your  own 
heart."  The  way  to  rise.  Power  of  humility.  "Fetching  blood  from  the 
old  man."  Preaches  at  Old  Points.  Presides  at  Methodist  Association  in 
Wales.  "  Swarzy  is  taken."  Honored  with  a  salute.  Tendered  another 
"blessed  association."  Preaching  established  all  over  Wales.  Opposers 
"like  vipers  biting  the  file."  Four  hundred  miles  in  three  weeks.  "  Re- 
sumed the  Lord's  battles  in  Moorfields."  Soars  on  eagle's  wings.  Mobbed 
at  Hampton.  Willing  to  die  for  Jesus.  Accused  falsely.  Escaped  from 
mob.  Surrenders  himself.  Thrown  into  a  lime-pit.  Filled  with  joy. 
His  courage  shook  them.  Let  out.  Thanks  God.  Taken  again.  His 
Christ-like  submission.  Led  through  town  by  the  mob.  ^^ His  sweet  walk." 
Thrown  into  the  creek.  Cut  his  leg.  "He  talked  to  them."  They  re- 
pented. He  did  not  sue  them.  Vra.y&A,  "  Father,  forgive  them."  He 
broke  up  the  mob  by  kindness.  They  made  another  attack.  He  sued 
them.  They  found  guilty.  Preaches  at  "Bristol  Fair."  Assaulted. 
"  Most  unmercifully  beaten."  He  cried  "  murder."  Received  repeated 
blows.  The  women  pushed  the  murderer  down  stairs.  The  neighborhood 
alarmed.  Another  murderous  scheme  frustrated  by  his  kindness.  His 
kindness  saved  his  life.  Thought  to  be  mad  because  he  preached  loud. 
One  went  to  stone  him  and  got  convicted.  He  made  a  preacher.  His 
powerful  appeal 232 

CHAPTER     XXIV. 

.,,  HIS   THIRD   VISIT  TO  AMERICA. 

After  a  solemn  parting,  sailed  for  New  England  August  4,  1744.  "Naturally 
a  coward."  Preparing  for  an  attack  at  sea.  Beats  up  for  arms.  Kindly 
received  at  York.  Very  sick.  Resolved  to  go  and  preach  and  die.  "But 
O  what  Ufe  !  "  "  What  power.'"  Thought  to  be  dying.  "  He  is  gone." 
Kind  reception  in  Boston.  Mod,-  of  preaching.  Aims  at  the  heart, 
through  the  head.     Effects  of  Mr.  Tennent's  labors.     Revival  increased 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

PAGE. 

with  great  power.  Whitefield's  '■'unguarded  expressions"  created  opposi- 
tion. His  converts  among  the  Boston  clergy.  Picking  holes  in  coats  and 
hearts.  "  From  all  this  smoke  a  blessed  fire  broke  out."  Six  o'clock 
lecture  established  in  Boston.  Declined  a  big  church.  Testimony  of  the 
revival.  A  scoffer  pricked  to  the  heart.  Cape  Breton  expedition. 
Gives  them  a  motto.  Victorious.  Abundant  fruits  in  New  York. 
Preached  to  the  Indians.  Saw  young  ones  studying  the  Catechism.  Re- 
fused the  Philadelphia  "  golden  bait."  Reading  his  sermon  "  kindled  a 
fire,"  and  organized  churches.  "  Mori-is'  Reading  House.''''  People  wept 
bitterly  under  the  reading  of  his  sermons.  Presbyterianism  established  in 
Virginia.  '■'■His  tour  NorthP  Latin  school  at  Bethesda.  Prosperous 
there.  Hunting  Maryland  sinners.  A\vfQ.ys  "  on  the  stretch.'"  "  Hard  to 
be  silent."  Strong  attachment  to  New  England.  "Determined  to  die 
fighting  on  his  stumps."  Returns  South,  tlunts  after  North  Carolina  sin- 
ners.    Very  submissive.     The  curtain  drops.     "A  wide  gap"  ensues 241 

CHAPTER     XXV. 

WHITEFIELD    IN    BERMUDAS. 

Weighed  down  ^ith  Orphan  House  cares,  he  sailed  for  Bermudas,  March, 
1748.  Very  kindly  received.  Delighted  with  the  place.  Commenced 
preaching  at  once.  Large  congregations.  Some  wept.  Many  colored 
people  attended.  Carried  about  on  the  people's  affections.  Dined  with 
the  governor.  Whitefield  answered  his  questions  so  well  all  were  pleased. 
Invited  him  home  with  them.  Preached  in  private  houses  almost  daily. 
Preached  to  the  negroes  and  whites  together.  "  Very  sensible  and  atten- 
tive." Negroes  need  the  best  qualified  teachers.  They  said  they  would 
"  strive  to  sin  no  more."  Preached  to  them  again  next  Sabbath.  Some 
wept.  Next  Sabbath  preached  his  farewell  sermon.  Meeting  time.  De- 
tained. Gave  them  another  farewell  next  Sabbath.  Increased  interest. 
Large  donations.  Many  wept  bitterly  around  him.  Sailed  for  England 
in  June.  Had  free  passage.  But  not  allowed  to  preach  on  board.  This 
grieved  his  heart.  Finished  revising  his  journals.  Confesses  his  blun- 
ders. His  zeal  mixed  with  wild-fire.  Much  humbled  over  it.  Thanks 
God  for  "  so  much  holy  fire." 251 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND. 
After  "  torrents  of  popularity,"  and  "  torrents  of  trials"  in  America,  reached 
London,  July  7,  1748.  Still  panting  for  souls.  Found  Tabernacle  con- 
gregation scattered.  All  right  at  Moorfields.  Former  zeal  rekindled. 
Sold  all  his  furniture  to  pay  his  debts.  Whitefield  and  the  nobility. 
Preaches  at  Lady  Huntington's.  English  lords  go  to  hear  him.  Lady 
H.  moves  to  London.  He  preaches  regularly  at  her  house.  Ladies' 
prayer  meeting.  "  The  Devil's  castaway."  The  lords  greatly  delighted 
with   Whitefield.     His   flights   of  oratory.     "  Stop,  Gabriel  1"     Converts 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

PAGB. 

among  nobility.  No  special  preference  for  the  rich.  John  Wesley  shunned 
them.  He  loved  the  poor.  He  thought  the  middling  class  superior. 
Sketch  of  Lady  Huntingdon.  "She  is  all  in  a  flame  for  yesus."  He 
goes  to  Scotland.  "Fear  not  temporal  support."  Great  success.  Urouglil 
on  the  carpet  by  the  Presbyterians.  The  more  he  was  blackened  the  more 
he  was  comforted.  Churches  shut  against  him.  "  Strange  things."  Er- 
skine  embraced  Whitetield.  He  aids  New  Jersey  College.  Tries  for  an 
academy  at  Bcthesda.  Asks  for  colored  help.  Returns  to  "  winter  quar- 
ters." Revival  at  Bristol  and  Kingswood.  Many  converts.  Excursion 
to  the  West.  His  power  of  darting  the  gospel  into  sinners'  hearts. 
"  Rambler  "  pierced.  Arrows  stuck  fast.  "  Preached  down  the  uproar." 
Breaking  heads  and  hearts.  Circuit  of  six  hundred  miles.  "  Goes  it  />lind- 
/olil."  Answers  a  "  virulent  pamphlet."  Wishes  to  head  no  party.  Sick  of 
popularity.  Love  of  power  intoxicates.  Mockers  weep.  I^eturns  to  Wales. 
In  sweet  retirement.  Great  success.  Circuit  of  eight  hundred  miles.  His 
desired  epitaph.  "  What  is,  is  best^  Stoned  at  Exeter.  His  head  cut. 
Tour  to  Yorkshire.  His  continual  vomitings.  "  The  pulpit  is  my  cure.''^ 
Fighting  in  winter  quarters.  Despised.  Following  Jesus  through  seas  of 
blood.  His  Earthquake  Sermon.  Scene  terrible  beyond  description. 
Interviews  Dr.  Doddridge  and  Mr.  Hervey.  Hervey's  sketch  of  him. 
Love  strikes,  wounds,  heals.  "  Satan  showing  his  teeth."  Strongly  op- 
posed uneducated  men  preaching.  Urged  them  to  quit  and  study.  Mock 
preacher  converted  and  preaches.  Goes  to  Scotland.  "  Fire  of  love  burns  ■ 
up  all  fevers."  Great  awakening.  Power  of  his  conversation.  Returns 
to  England.  "  Fight  on  your  knees."  "  The  world  wants  more  heat  than 
light."  Long  tours.  Views  of  slavery.  Spring  campaign.  Goes  to  Ire- 
land. Great  riots  become  quietness.  Returns  to  Scotland.  Precious  sea- 
sons.    Multitudes  "  5/w</ y?jr^(/."     Heart-breaking  partings 255 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

FOURTH    VISIT   TO   AMERICA — RETURN — FURTHER     LABORS     IN    GREAT     HKIIAIN, 

Weeping  farewells  m  Scotland.  Returns  to  England,  and  sails  for  America, 
August,  1 75 1.  Found  Orphan  House  all  right.  Strikes  for  a  Theologi- 
cal School  in  it.  Returns  to  England  in  April.  Government  of  Georgia 
transferred  to  the  King  of  England.  Prospects  more  encouraging.  Tour 
to  Wales.  Letter  to  Benjamin  Franklin.  Has  something  of  Christ  in 
■every  letter.  Visits  Scotland  again.  Laid  the  foundation  of  the  Taber- 
nacle. Basking  in  God's  presence.  Longs  for  humility.  Worked  to  death. 
Esteems  the  reproaches  of  Christ  above  all  riches.  Bitter  j)crsecutors  con- 
verted. Congregation  of  twenty  thousand  at  Leeds.  "  People  full  of  fire." 
Awakenings  general.  "  Reached  Edinburgh  all  of  a  blaze."  Sums 
up  the  campaign  "  Cambuslang  seasons."  New  Tabernacle  at  Bristol. 
Visits  John  Wesley  sick.  Aids  New  Jersey  College.  Closes  sunnner 
■campaign.  "The  wonder  of  the  age."'  Closed  the  year  in  an  ecstasy. 
Blessings  overwhelming.     Lofty  self-denial 276 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER     XXVIII. 

HIS   FIFTH   VISIT  TO   AMERICA, 

PAGE. 

With  twenty-two  orphans  gathered  for  Bethesda,  he  sailed  for  America, 
March,  1754.  Came  by  Lisbon.  Deeply  affected  with  popish  sights  and 
processions.  He  prayed,  "  Father,  forgive  them,"  etc.  Reached  Beth- 
esda in  May.  "  All  quite  well."  Croas  novlh  " /(?  cross-p/on^/i."  Reached 
New  York  late  in  July.  "  Sweet  to  run  about  for  God."  Very  sick  at 
Philadelphia.  "  Glorious  range  in  America."  Prejudices  dying  out. 
y\ttends  Commencement  of  New  Jersey  College.  Refreshed  by  a  Synod 
of  Presbyterians.  "  Seemed  like  heaven  upon  earth."  "  Never  saw  so 
many  simple-hearted  ministers  before."  Received  degree  of  A.  M. 
"  This  College  is  of  God."  The  purest  he  had  seen.  Goes  to  New  Eng- 
land. "  With  enemies  silenced,  Jesus  triumphs  gloriously."  Traveled 
two  thousand  miles  during  the  expedition.  "  Preaches  all  the  way  from 
Boston  (fourteen  hundred  miles)  to  Georgia."  Arrows  stuck  fast  in 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  A  Bethesda  student  ordained  to  preach. 
Inexpressably  "glorious  scenes."  Yet  we  see  only  the  mighty  inipuhe 
given.     The  drummer  overcome  by  his  ajipeal.     The  "  currents  of  sin.". .   285 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

FURTHER  LABORS    IN  ENGLAND. —  1 755-6-8. 

Left  America  with  regret.  "  Sinners  come  like  a  cloud."  His  first  excur- 
sion. Vast  congregations.  "  Sick  of  himself,  the  world,  and  the  church," 
and  pants  for  Goil.  Dedicates  a  new  Tabernacle.  America  dear  to  his  heart. 
His  tour  north.  "  Five  per  cent,  from  man,  preferred  to  one  hundred  from 
God.  "  Cup  of  many  ran  over."  "  The  devil  of  devils."  His  patriot- 
ism. "  Nail  the  Hag  just  below  the  cross."  "  Perpetual  preaching  " 
better.  Ready  to  die.  "  O,  the  pleasure  of  having  nothing."  Preaches  at 
Long  Acre,  a  rough  place.  The  bishop's  prohibition  and  hired  rioters. 
Several  badly  wounded.  Whitefield  labored  on.  To  stop  preachmg 
"worse  than  death."  His  life  threatened.  "Jesus  will  guard  me." 
Tottenham  Court  Chapel.  "  VVhitefield's  Soul  Trap."  Twice  enlarged. 
Excursion  to  Gloucester.  Returns  to  Long  Acre.  Dedicates  the  new 
chapel.  Goes  to  Scotland.  Great  success.  Revival  at  Tottenham 
Court.  "The  word  flies  like  lightning."  His  ninth  visit  to  Scotland. 
Saw  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly.  Invited  to  their  entertainment. 
Goes  to  Ireland.  Motjbcd.  •■' All  a  lyrc  0/  Idood.'"  "  Almost  killed." 
Threw  off  his  disguise.  "  Kodc  in  lriinii])li  through  oaths  and  curses." 
Left  his  persecutors  to  mercy  of  God.  "  Went  about  like  a  flying  angel 
preaching  the  gospel."  Great  revival  at  Long  Acre.  Recovered  by 
preaching  three  times  a  day.  "  Put  on  short  allowance."  Erected  twelve 
almshouses  at  Chapel  for  "godly  widows."  "His  redouljts."  Confesses 
himself  "  a  mere  «c;z/iV^."  "All  ablaze  ni  London."  His  summer  cam- 
paign. Knew  where  he  was  born  again.  Goes  to  Wales.  Prays  to  be 
put  into  one  furnace  after  another.     Starts  for  Scotland.     Yet  "  expected 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

PAGB 

death  every  sermon."  Preaching  cured  him.  Severe  partings.  Receives 
a  Legacy.  Pays  off  Orphan  House  debt.  Growing  fat.  .Spring  cam- 
paign. Rejected  a  gift  of  ;^7ooo.  His  record  scanty  in  1760.  Mocked 
on  the  public  stage.  To  him  such  contempt  was  sweet.  Upset  in  a  chaise. 
"  Tried  to  preach,  but  could  not."  Goes  to  Scotland  again.  Got  better 
and  returned  to  London.  Longs  to  fly  from  pole  to  pole  to  preach  the 
gospel.  His  voyage  to  Holland.  "  Old  times  revive  again."  Another 
excursion  to  Scotland.     "  The  kirk  was  a  Bethel."     Sailed  for  America...  291 

CHAPTER     XXX. 

HIS    SIXTH    VISIT   TO   AMERICA. 

After  eight  more  years  labor  in  the  old  world,  sailed  for  the  new.  Voyage 
very  pleasant.  "Scarce  an  oath  was  heard."  "Jesus  made  the  ship  a 
Bethel."  Landed  in  Virginia,  August  23,  1763.  hl^iioxiy  "new- creature''^ 
ministers  in  Philadelphia.  Rejoiced  to  hear  of  sixteen  converted  students. 
Much  encouraged.  Preached  in  Philadelphia.  Went  over  to  New  Jersey 
College.  Said  it  is  one  of  the  purest  in  the  world.  Revival  in  New 
York.  An  Indian  school.  Six  months'  excursion  in  New  England.  Re- 
turns to  New  York.  Has  one  hundred  carriages  every  sermon.  Goes 
back  to  New  England.  "A  wider  door  than  ever  opened."  Deep  affec- 
tion for  him-  in  Boston  and  New  Haven.  Attended  commencement  at 
New  Jersey  College.  Crowned  with  great  success,  he  left  Philadelphia, 
exclaiming,  "Hallelujah  !"  Goes  South.  All  encouraging  at  Bethesda. 
"  The  Chapel  a  daily  Bethel."  "  Farewell,  my  beloved  Bethesda!"  "A 
luxurious  repast."  England  and  America  clamorous  for  his  services. 
People  thirsting  for  the  gospel 308 

CHAPTER     XXXI. 

HIS    LAST   LABORS    IN    ENGLAND. 

La.st  farewell  to  America.  Reached  England  July  5,  1765.  Feeble  in 
health,  cries  "(?,  to  end  life  well."  Dedicates  new  chapel  at  Bath. 
Aided  in  London  by  an  Indian  preacher.  Aids  the  Indian  schools 
in  New  England.  "Could  go  to  the  gates  of  hell  to  preach."  Power 
of  Methodism.  Fifty-two  years  old,  and  just  begins  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian. Power  of  his  earnest  appeals.  Dedicates  Brighton  Chapel.  "  A 
sweet  gospel  excursion"  at  Cambridge.  Mounts  his  "  field  throne"  again. 
"Old  Methodism  is  the  thing  after  all."  Motto:  " No  resting  this  side 
heaven."  His  college  project  defeated.  His  firmness.  Preached  at  an 
earl's  funeral.  "All  was  hushed  and  solemn."  Laments  his  barrenness. 
Shouts  hallelujah.  He  defends  persecuted  students,  who  were  expelled 
for  Methodism.  Another  college  arises  because  of  it.  Goes  to  Scotland 
for  the  fifteenth  and  last  time.  Very  affectionately  received.  Afraid  "of 
being  hugged  to  death."  "All  goes  on  better  and  better."  His  wife''s 
death,  August  9,  1768.     He  preached  at  her  funeral.     "  Sweet  bereavement 


CONTENTS  XVU 

PAGE. 

when  God  fills  up  the  chasm."  Missed  her  much.  Labored  so  hard, 
burst  a  vein.  Kept  silent  several  days.  "  His  vt'hole  life  a  continual, 
Christ-like  sacrifice."  Zeal  increased  to  the  last.  Joyful  anticipations  of 
death.  Pentecostal  scenes.  Dedicates  another  chapel.  Weeping  fare- 
well to  England.  It  seemed  like  an  execution.  Messrs  C.  Winter  and 
Smith  sail  with  him.     "  All  is  well." 314 

CHAPTER     XXXII. 

HIS  LAST  LABORS  IN  AMERICA. 
Reached  Charleston  Nov.  30,  1769.  "His  reception  heartier  than  ever." 
Preached  same  day.  Found  Bethesda  flourishing.  The  Legislature's 
sympathies.  The  Governor's  Council  and  Assembly  heard  him  preach. 
Orphan  boy's  speech.  Whitefield's  peace  flowed  like  a  river.  Shouts  of 
hallelujah.  Goes  to  Philadelphia.  Explores  the  region  about.  Goes  to 
New  York  in  June.  Sent  a  bundle  of  invitations  to  England.  Strikes  for 
"Fresh  Work."  Preached  at  a  horse-thief's  execution.  Stood  upon  his 
cotfin  and  exhorted  and  prayed.  Goes  to  Boston.  Preaches  with  unusual 
power.  All  opposition  ceases.  Writes  his  last  letter.  Too  sick  to  preach. 
Prays,  "O  for  a  warm  heart:  O  to  stand  fast."  His  last  sermon: 
nearly  two  hours  long.  His  personal  appearance.  His  "eloquent  face." 
Very  neat  and  cheerful.  His  sermons.  "  They  swept  everything  before 
them."  Specimens  of.  Prayed  God  to  put  him  into  furnaces,  that  he 
might  see  him  as  he  is 324 

CHAPTER     XXXIII. 

whitefield's  death. 
Greatly  fatigued  the  day  before,  he  retired  early.  Drank  his  water 
gruel.  Closed  the  evening,  Sept.  29,  with  prayer.  Slept  till  two  in 
the  morning.  Awoke,  panting  for  breath,  with  asthma.  Would  rather 
wear  out  than  rust  out."  Had  taken  cold.  Prayed  for  direction  for 
Bethesda,  the  Tabernacle,  and  all.  his  connections  across  the  Atlantic. 
Slept  again.  About  four,  waked  up  almost  suffocated  with  asthma.  Flees 
to  the  window  for  air.  He  soon  said,  "/  am  dying."  Ran  to  the  other  ■ 
window.  They  sent  for '  the  doctor.  He  came.  It  was  too  late.  Said 
"He  is  a  dead  man."  Mr.  Parsons  didn't  believe  it.  He  died  at  6, 
Sept.  30,  1770.  They  rubbed  and  bathed  him,  "but  all  in  vain."  He  had 
long  prayed  for  death.  His  death  was  jW(/^«,  unexpected.  "The  bat- 
tle's fought,  the  victory  won."  The  word  spread  like  fire.  "  He  died  in 
the  zenith  of  his  glory."  He  died  silent.  He  died  triumphantly,  because 
he  lived  earnestly.     He  made  life  second  to  duty » 334 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
whitefield's  funeral. 
Many  thousands  flock  to  mingle  their  tears  of  sorrow.     Bemoan  America's 
and  England's  loss.    Requests  sent  to  bury  his  remains  at  Portsmouth  and 


XVin  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Boston.  Both  refused.  Buried  under  Mr.  Parsons'  pulpit  at  his  own  re- 
quest. Buried  in  his  gown,  cassock  and  wig,  October  2,  1770,  from  Mr. 
Parsons'.  At  ten  o'clock  bells  tolled,  and  all  vessels  in  harbor  gave  sig- 
nals of  mourning.  Great  lamentation.  Mr.  Rodgers  cried  out,  "  O,  ?ny 
father,  MY  FATHER !"  Bitter  weeping.  The  funeral  sermon.  The  great 
loss.  All  New  England  lamented  him.  Two  continents  mourn  his  loss. 
The  lamentation  in  England.  John  Wesley,  at  Whitefield's  request, 
preached  his  funeral  in  the  Tabernacle.  "  Whitejield' s  will."  Willed 
the  Orphan  House,  etc.,  to  Lady  liuntingdon  and  Mr.  Habersham.  His 
affairs  in  England  to  two  worthy  friends.  •  Sums  of  money  to  special 
friends,  servants  and  widows.  Prizes  for  best  orations  in  Orphan  House 
Academy.  Mo.st  liearuly  forgave  all  his  enemies.  Willed  mourning 
rings  to  John  and  Charles  Wesley.  WhitcfieWs  tomb.  Under  pulpit  of 
old  S.  Presbyterian  church.  Condition  of  his  remains.  Visited  by  many. 
One  bone  taken  to  England  and  brought  back.  "  IVhiteJield'' s  motitt- 
ment."  His  cenotaph  in  same  church.  Surmounted  with  a  golden  flame. 
His  Epitaph 341 

CHAPTER     XXXV. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS. 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  preached  his  first  funeral  sermon  the  day  he  died.  He 
read  Henry's  commentaries  through  on  his  knees.  "  He  flew  like  a  flame 
of  fire."  " Alarmed  all  sorts  of  people."  "Hell  trembled  before  him." 
He  "astonished  the  world  with  his  eloquence  and  devotion."  (Wesley.) 
His  strong  frietids/tip.  Cheerful  and  tender-hearted.  His  natural  abili- 
ties. Preached  amid  showers  of  stones.  "  He  was  a  second  Luther." 
An  "eminent  divine."  (Edwards).  "Raised  up  to  shine  in  a  dark 
place."  "  The  apostle  of  the  British  Empire."  His  "  absolute  command 
of  the  passions."  "A  most  excellent  systematic  divine."  (Toplady.)  He 
planted,  Wesley  watered.  "  Despised  preferments  and  riches."  "  Proof 
against  reproach  and  invective."  iManner  of  preaching.  "  He  lived  witli- 
out  a  stain  on  his  reputation."  He  fascinated  all  ranks.  His  love  was 
incapable  of  repulse.  Great  bodily  endurance.  "  He  was  a  great  and 
holy  man."  (Su-  Jas.  Stephen.)  "  I  have  never  seen  his  integrity,  disin- 
terestedness, and  zeal  equaled."  (Lranklin.)  "  He  looked  like  a  flying 
angel."  Hervey  says,  "  I  never  saw  so  fair  a  copy  of  our  Lord."  People 
ready  to  bathe  his  feet  in  their  tears.  "  The  prince  of  English  preachers." 
"  He  eclipsed  all."  (Hamilton.)  "  He  spoke  because  \\^felt,  his  hearers 
understood  because  they  saw."  Very  graphic.  His  influence  is  incal- 
culable. His  eighteen  thousand  sermons.  "  He  preached  with  a  popularity 
and  success  never  equaled."  (Dr.  Alexander.)  He  did  much  for  the 
Methodists.  He  went  before,  Wesley  followed.  Wlutcfield  planted, 
Wesley  watered,  "He  led  Methodism  over  its  first  barriers."  He  re- 
vived the  Established  Church  of  England.  Plis  influence  greater  in 
America,     Whitefleld  revival  m  America.     It  gave  rise  to  Princeton  Col- 


CONTENTS.  XiX 

PAGE. 

lege  and  Seminary.  His  iuUuence  in  New  England.  Numerous  conver- 
sions among  rrcsbyterians.  All  denominations.  'The  spiiilual father 
of  a  great  nation.  He  revived,  and  almost  saved  the  churches  of  two  con- 
tinents     351 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

wiiitefield's  sayings. 
The  farther  we  go,  the  cooler  we  ge't,  and  yet  the  more  zealous.  "Jesus 
carries  me  in  His  arms."  "  The  farther  I  search,  the  worse.  I  leave  it  to 
the  Spirit  to  make  the  application."  "  I  feel  myself  the  chief  of  sinners." 
"  What  sweet  company  is  Jesus."  "  I  prefer  Christ's  reproach  to  all  the 
treasures  in  the  world."  '■'■Keep  close  to  yesus."  "The  more  I  was 
blackened,  the  more  God  comforted  me."  "  O,  to  be  nothing,  that  Jesus 
may  be  all."  "  The  more  we  are  cast  out,  the  mure  will  Jesus  come  into 
us."  "Let  us  folluw  him,  though  it  be  through  a  sea  of  blood."  "  Let  us 
be  all  heart."  "The  world  wants  more  heat  than  light."  "  O,  that  I 
could  lly  from  pole  to  pole  publishing  the  everlasting  gos^Jel.  "  I  stop  to 
weep.     P'arewell." 368 

CHAPTER     XXXVII. 

SECRET  OF  wiiitefield's  SUCCESS. 

He  was  a  self-made  man.  Brought  up  in  poverty,  lie  had  to  hoe  his  own - 
row.  He  hoed  it  well.  Rose  from  a  "/'ot  Boj"  to  be  the  best  orator  in 
the  world.  His  genius  and  eloquence  wonderful.  He  bega>i  hnv,  and  laid 
a  good  foundation.  Deeply  humbled  by  the  pangs  of  regeneration.  Fasted 
himself  almost  to  death.  Prayed  "whole  days  and  weeks."  Prayed  much 
for  humility.  His  entire  consecration.  Deep  sense  of  his  obligation  to 
preach.  Counted  all  but  loss  to  do  it.  Yet  slow  to  commence  it.  Cave 
liiuiself  lohully  to  it.  State  of  jjiety  loto  when  he  began.  Refused  a  j)res- 
cnt  of  ^"7,000.  His  very  fun  was  mixed  with  religion.  A  great  worker. 
Always  on  the  stretch  for  Ciod.  Went  aljout  doing  good.  He  reaped, 
John  Wesley  gathered  and  shocked.  Labors  on  ship-board.  Soon  broke 
u[)  card-playing,  swearing  and  gambling.  A  great  reforniali<jn  followed. 
Cards  and  bad  books  thrown  overboard.  Many  hopeful  conversions.  Tlie 
cabin  became  a  Bethel,  and  the  deck  a  church.  Worked  his  own  way 
tin-ough  college.  Blacked  boots  and  cleaned  rooms.  Often  preached 
before  day,  and  prayed  all  night.  Often  preached  when  expected  to  die 
every  minute.  His  labors  seem  almost  superhuman.  Preeminently  a  ///an 
of  prayer.  Prayer  and  hia  devotional  spirit  gave  him  success.  11  is  vic- 
tories on  the  field,  were  won  in  the  closet.  He  generally  i)reaclierl  two 
or  three  times  a  day.  Worked  himself  to  death.  His  strong  friendship. 
Would  win  your  heart  by  shaking  your  hand.  Loved  his  friends  as  his 
own  soul.  "He  made  friends  fast  and  held  ihem  long."  Often  "received 
as  an  angel  of  God."  Sometimes  "in  danger  of  being  hugged  to  deatli." 
His  heart  ready  to  break  witti  sorrow,  and  burst  with  joy.  His  great  faith 
and  deep  convictions.     He  took  God  at  his  word.    To  him,  eternity,  heaven 


XX  CONTENTS. 

PAGB 

and  hell,  God  and  the  devil,  and  Jesus  Christ,  were  stern  realities.  He 
seemed  to  bring  hell  up,  and  heaven  down  upon  earth.  He  bid  Satan, 
death  and  hell  defiance.  Whitefield  gloried  in  tribulation.  Sometimes  he 
iieemed  to  walk  between  the  very  cherubims  of  glory.  His  strong  faith 
was  a  principal  element  in  hjs  success.  By  faith  he  shook  the  devil's 
throne,  and  made  hell  tremble  before  him.  Whitefield  as  an  orafor.  "His 
elocution  was  perfect."  (Southey.)  He  held  spell-bound  the  low,  learned, 
great.  He  studied  oratory.  Gave  special  attention  to  delivery.  Always 
grave  and  solemn.  He  "preached  like  a  lion  and  looked  like  an  angel." 
Always  deeply  sincere,  and  perfectly  natural.  His  vivid  descriptions. 
Sometimes  he  seemed  to  reenact  Gethsemane  and  Calvary.  Lord  Chester- 
field took  his  description  for  the  transaction.  Very  graphic.  His  deep 
pathos.  He  was  very  pathetic.  He  wept  nearly  every  sermon  he  preached. 
He  was  a  heart  preacher.  Aimed  at  the  heart.  His  eloquent  flights  were 
bursts  of  passion.  "  His  bursts  of  eloquence  were  perfectly  overwhelming." 
He  excelled  the  world  in  darting  the  word  of  God  into  the  sinner's  heart. 
When  he  preached  at  Cambuslang  Communion,  the  effect  was  so  over- 
whelming he  had  to  stop.  The  motion  fled  quick  as  lightning.  The  effect 
was  tremendous.  He  won  the  purse  as  well  as  the  heart.  A  most  suc- 
cessful beggar.  Preached  money  out  of  the  people — even  from  Benjamin 
Franklin.  Whitefield  was  bold.  Buoyant  with  courage,  he  broke  over  the 
rules  and  preached  out-doors  at  Hannam  Mount.  It  was  a  great  victory. 
"The  Rubicon  is  passed."  Gagged  in  the  city,  he  fled  to  the  country.  He 
was  not  born  to  be  muzzled.  Preach  he  must,  and  preach  he  would.  Noth- 
ing but  death  could  stop  him.  Commands  the  recording  angel  to  stop. 
Very  direct  and  pointed.  The  spirit  of  "  Thou  art  the  inan,^'  flashes  on 
every  page.  Yixsgrtzi  Ji eld  victory.  Turned  lions  into  lambs.  One  thou- 
sand convictions — three  hundred  and  fifty  conversions  under  one  ser- 
mon. The  mob  roared — the  people  prayed.  What  a  grand  victory  !  As 
an  orator  he  eclipsed  the  world,  and  completely  out-generaled  the  devil. 
He  was  terribly  in  earnest.  He  preached  zvith  all  his  might.  Awed  by 
no  threats,  opposition  quailed  before  him.  Always  insatiable,  no  success 
satisfied,  no  danger  alarmed  him.  His  zeal  consumed  him.  Invincible  in 
his  plans,  nothing  daunted,  nothing  moved  him.  "  His  ideas  came  red-hot 
from  his  heart."  "  Everything  melted  before  him."  His  whole  life  was 
a  continual  sacrifice  for  God.  A  "flaming  seraph,"  he  burnt  out  in  the 
blaze  of  his  own  fire 372 

APPENDIX. 

SERMON  FIRST. 

THE    KINGDOM    OF    GOD. 

"  For  the  kingdom  of   God  is  not  meat  and  drink  ;  but  righteousness,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." — Rom.  xiv.  17. 

SERMON  SECOND. 

GOD,   A   believer's   GLORY. 

"And  thy  God  thy  glory." — Isa.  Ix.  19. 


INTRODUCTION. 


'O  SEE  more  clearly  the  effect  of  Whitefield's  in- 
fluence, we  here  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  church  when  he  commenced  his 
labors.  When  Whitefield  entered  the  pulpit, 
the  state  of  piety  in  the  Established  Church 
tV^  U^^^Y^  of  England  was  very  low.  Filled  with  uncon- 
^  i  verted  ministers  and  formal  professors,  lifeless 
forms,  instead  of  earnest  devotions,  marked 
nearly  the  entire  church.  Intemperance,  profligacy  and  infi- 
delity were  so  prevalent,  that  the  Rev.  Augustus  W.  Toplady, 
a  contemporary  of  Whitefield  and  of  the  same  church, 
says,  "  I  believe  no  denomination  of  professing  Christians, 
the  church  of  Rome  excepted,  were  so  generally  void  of 
the  light  and  life  of  godliness,  and  so  generally  destitute  of  the 
doctrine  and  of  the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  as  was  the  Church  of 
England.  At  that  period  a  converted  minister  in  the  estab- 
lishment was  as  great  a  wonder  as  a  comet ;  but  now,  since 
that  great  apostle  of  the  British  Empire,  the  late  Mr.  White- 
field,  was  raised  up  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  the  word  of 
God  has  run  and  been  glorified."  And,  said  Bishop  Butler 
about  the  same  time,  "  It  is  come,  I  know  not  how,  to  be  taken 
for  granted  by  many  persons,  that  Christianity  is  not  so  much 
as  a  subject  of  inquiiy ;  but  that  it  is  now  at  length  discovered 
to  be  fictitious.  And  accordingly  they  treat  it  as  if  in  the 
present  age  this  were  an  agreed  point  among  all  people  of 
2  ('7) 


1 8  INTRODUCTION. 

di;.ccriiinent ;  and  nothinj^  remained  but  to  set  it  up  as  a  princi- 
pal subject  of  mirth  ami  ridicule,  as  it  were,  by  way  of  reprisals 
for  its  having  so  long  interrupted  the  pleasures  of  the  world." 

So  great  was  the  ignorance  of  these  times  that  Rev.  Dr.  R. 
Watson  says  that  a  great  majority  of  the  lower  classes  were  not 
only  unable  to  read,  but  "  in  many  places  were  semi-barbarous 
in  their  habits."  In  some  districts  the  parents  knew  so  little 
about  God,  that  they  taught  their  children  to  pray  to  men. 
He  says  a  clergyman  has  recently  published,  "that  in  many 
villages  in  Devonshire  the  only  form  of  prayer  .still  taught  to 
their  children  by  the  peasantry,  is  the  following  goodly  verses 
handed  down  from  their  popish  ancestry  : 

"  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke  and  John, 
Ules.s  the  l)e(.l  that  I  lie  on,"  etc. 

Dr.  Watson  also  says,  "A  great  portion  of  the  clergy  were 
grossly  ignorant  of  theology,  and  contented  themselves  with 
reading  short,  unmeaning  sermons,  purchased  or  pilfered,  and 
formed  upon  the  lifeless  theological  system  of  the  day." 

The  English  heart  had  now  become  so  corrupt,  that  John 
Wesley  exclaimed  about  that  time,  "  What  is  the  present  char- 
acter of  the  English  nation?  It  is  ungodliness.  Ungodliness 
is  our  universal,  our  con.stant,  our  peculiar  character."  Yet 
amidst  all  this  darkness,  there  were  a  few  bright  stais,  such  as 
Drs.  Watts,  Doddridge,  Guyse,  and  Bishops  Butler,  Home  and 
Lowth,  etc.,  besides  the  mighty  genius,  light  and  power  then 
slumbering  in  Whitefield  and  the  Wesleys. 


LIFE  OF  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 


CHAPTER     I. 

whitefield's  birth  and  boyhood. 

VERY  age  and  every  nation  has  its  great 
leading  spirits.  The  old  dispensation  had  a 
Moses,  and  the  new  had  a  Paul.  Greece 
had  a  Demosthenes,  and  Rome  a  Cicero. 
America  had  an  Edwards  and  England  a 
Whitefield.  Yet,  great  men,  great  orators, 
and  especially  great  preachers,  are  rare ; 
hence  when  one  does  arise,  it  is  important  to 
mark  his  career  and  sift  well  the  secret  of  his  power  and 
success. 

George  Whitefield  was  born  in  the  Old  Bell  Inn,  in  the 
city  of  Gloucester,  England,  December  i6,  17 14.  With  our 
present  data  we  can  trace  back  his  ancestry  only  through 
three  generations.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Whitefield,  his  great- 
grandfather, was  an  Episcopal  minister,  and  was  born  in 
Wantage,  England.  He  was  for  a  while  Rector  of  the 
churches  of  North  Ledyard  and  Rockhampton.  Of  his  seven 
children,  only  two  were  sons,  Samuel  and  Andrew.  Samuel 
was  also  an  Episcopal  minister,  but  Andrew,  George's  grand- 
father, was  an  English  gentleman.  He  lived  a  private  life  on 
his  own  estate. 

Of  his  large  family  of  fourteen  children,  Thomas,  the  eldest, 

(•9) 


20  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

and  father  of  George,  was  brought  up  as  a  wine-merchant  in 
Bristol.  But  hav'ing  abandoned  the  wine  business,  he  took 
charge  of  the  "  Old  Bell  Inn,"  in  the  city  of  Gloucester,  where- 
upon he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Edwards,  of  Bristol,  by  whom 
he  had  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  George  was  the 
youngest. 

Here  within  the  crumbling  walls  of  this  old  tavern,  which  is 
still  standing,  much  improved  and  surrounded  with  scenes  of 
historic  interest,  the  immortal  Whitefield  first  drew  the  breath 
of  life.  "  Venerable  city,"  though  thou  ha.st  produced  no  kings 
nor  queens,  yet  distinguished  for  being  the  birth-place  of 
Whitefield,  and  the  burial  place  of  Robert  Raikes,  the  founder 
of  Sunday-schools,  and  as  the  noted  place  where  the  heroic 
Bishop  Hooper  triumphantly  died  in  flames  at  the  stake,  under 
the  cruel  reign  of  bloody  Maiy,  thy  name  is  immortal  and 
deserves  to  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance.  Well  may  the 
world  rejoice,  that  although  one  bright  Herald  of  the  Gospel 
has  perished  within  thy  walls,  another  has  been  raised  up  to 
publish  it  to  two  hemispheres. 

Although  "  his  advent  augured  no  brilliant  future,"  yet  if 
Virgil  was  the  son  of  a  potter,  Demosthenes  of  a  smith, 
Columbus  of  a  cloth-weaver,  Ben  Jonson  of  a  brick-layer, 
Shakespeare  of  a  wool-trader.  Burns  of  a  poor  peasant,  and 
Luther  of  a  miner,  it  is  not  surprising  "  that  the  world's 
greatest   preacher  should    have   sprung   from    an    inn-keeper." 

Made  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father  when  but  two 
years  old,  little  George  was  the  object  of  much  tender  care  by 
his  affectionate  mother.  Although  given  to  some  vicious 
habits,  George  was  always  a  promising  boy.  His  early  devel- 
opments induced  his  anxious  mother  to  expect  great  things 
of  him ;  and  being  in  moderate  circumstances,  she  was  much 
troubled  and  perplexed  about  his  education.     In  speaking  of 


whitefield's  birth  and  boyhood.  21 

her,  George  says,  "  She  has  often  told  me  how  she  endured 
fourteen  weeks'  sickness  after  she  brought  me  into  the  world  ; 
but  was  used  to  say,  even  when  I  was  an  infant,  that  she 
expected  more  comfort  from  me  than  from  any  of  the  other 
children.  This,  with  the  circumstance  of  my  being  born  in  an 
inn,  has  often  been  of  service  to  me,  in  exciting  my  endeavors 
to  make  good  my  mother's  expectations,  and  so  follow  the 
example  of  my  dear  Saviour,  who  was  laid  in  a  manger  belong- 
ing to  an  inn."  Although  he  seems  to  have  been  of  a  serious 
turn  of  mind  from  his  youth,  yet  in  the  terrible  scrutiny  of  his 
own  judgment  in  after  life,  he  was  exceedingly  depraved.  He 
describes  himself  as  "being  so  brutish  as  to  hate  instruction, 
and  'used  purposely  to  shun  all  opportunities  of  receiving  it ;" 
even  "  stealing,"  as  Dr.  Gillies  says,  "  from  his  mother's  pocket, 
and  frequently  appropriating  the  money  he  received  in  the 
hotel,  for  cards,  plays  and  romances,"  which,  he  says,  "  were 
my  heart's  delight."  Again  he  .says,  "  If  I  trace  myself  from 
my  cradle  to  my  manhood,  I  can  see  nothing  in  me  but  a 
fitness  to  be  damned  :  and  if  the  Almighty  had  not  prevented 
me  by  His  grace,  I  had  now  either  been  sitting  and  in  the 
shadow  of  death,  or  condemned,  as  the  due  reward  of  my 
crimes,  to  be  forever  lifting  up  my  eyes  in  torments."  Yet 
\yithal,  he  possessed  a  toidcr  heaH,  and  being  full  of  fun  and 
mischief,  he  .says,  "  Often  have  I  joined  with  others  in  playing 
roguish  tricks,  but  was  generally,  if  not  always,  happily 
detected :  for  this  I  have  often  since,  and  do  now,  bless  and 
praise  God."  His  full  confessions  of  these  pernicious  habits 
are  very  touching  and  humiliating,  and  should  induce  the 
young  to  "  shun  all  appearance  of  evil."  Reader,  if  tempted 
to  play  "  roguish  tricks,"  remember,  "  Thou  God  seest  me" 
When  George  was  about  ten  years  old,  his  mother  got  mar- 
ried again ;  but  the   match  proved  an  unhappy  one,  however, 


22  LIFE   OF    WHITFFIELD. 

and  gave  rise  to  much  unhappiness.  He  was,  however,  kept  at 
school,  and  when'about  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  the 
Grammar  School  of  St.  Mary  dc  Crypt,  in  Gloucester,  where 
he  went  about  three  years,  and  made  great  progress  in  the 
classics.  Although  it  is  said  that  Whitefield  was  bom  an 
orator,  and  that  the  first  mental  manifestations  of  his  childhood 
were  pertaining  to  the  orator,  yet  it  was  not  until  he  appeared 
on  the  rostrum  at  the  Grammar  School,  that  his  native  powers 
of  eloquence  began  to  be  developed.  Here  he  spoke  with  such 
grace  and  power  before  the  city  corporation  at  the  annual 
school  exhibitions,  that  he  not  only  received  much  applause, 
but  handsome  compensations  for  his  performances.  And 
George,  with  the  other  scholars,  being  fond  of  acting  plays, 
their  teacher,  to  encourage  them  in  it,  composed  a  dramatic 
piece  for  them  which  they  performed  before  the  city  corpora- 
tion, in  which  George,  drcs.sed  in  girl's  clothes,  acted  a 
woman's  part,  the  remembrance  of  which,  he  says,  "  has  often 
covered  me  with  shame  and  confusion  efface." 

About  this  time  George  became  deeply  interested  in  "  Bishop 
Kerr's  Manual  for  Winchester  Scholars,"  which  having  proved 
a  source  of  comfort  to  his  mother  in  her  afflictions,  he  .saved 
money  enough  out  of  what  he  received  for  his  stage  perform- 
ances and  bought  it,  carefully  read  it  through,  and  found  it 
afterwards,  he  says,  "  of  great  benefit  to  his  soul."  In  speaking 
of  the  evil  tendencies  and  corrupt  influences  of  these  exhibi- 
tions and  dramatic  performances  upon  the  boys  at  school,  he 
.says,  "  I  cannot  but  observe  here,  with  much  concern  of  mind, 
how  this  way  (if  training  up  youth  has  a  natural  tendency  to 
debauch  the  mind,  to  raise  ill  passions,  and  to  .stuff  the  memory 
with  things  as  contrarj^  to  the  go.spel  of  Christ  as  darkness  to 
light,  hell  to  heaven." 


whitefield's  birth  and  boyhood.  23 

the  "  pot-boy." 

When  George  was  about  fifteen,  he  thought  he  had  learning 
enough  for  any  ordinaiy  business  in  hfe;  and  as  his  mother's 
business  was  decHning,  and  she  not  being  afble  to  give  him  a 
collegiate  education,  he  persuaded  her  to  let  him  quit  school,  . 
come  home  and  assist  her  in  the  hotel.  Taking  the  position  of 
a  common  ^^  pot-boy  I'  he  says,  "  I  began  to  assist  her  occasion- 
ally in  the  public-house,  till  at  length  I  put  on  my  blue  apron 
and  my  snuffers,  washed  mops,  cleaned  rooms,  and  in  a  word, 
became  a  professed  and  conunon  drawer  for  nearly  a  year  and  a 
half"  During  all  these  ups  and  downs  in  George's  early  life, 
he  was  entirely  unconscious  of  his  great  latent  genius  and 
forthcoming  power.  When  washing  mops  and  cleaning  rooms] 
in  the  inn,  he  knew  nothing  of  the  melting  pathos  and  match-i 
less  eloquence  that  then  slumbered  in  his  noble  soul.  Little 
did  he  think,  when  wielding  the  mop  at  home,  that  he  would 
soon  so  wield  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  that  he  would  astonish 
the  world  with  his  zeal  and  eloquence.  Yet  from  childhood, 
George  says,  "  I  was  always  fond  of  being  a  clergyman,  and 
used  frequently  to  imitate  the  ministers'  reading  prayers." 
And  this  desire  seemed  to  have  increased  as  he  grew  older: 
for  says  he,  "  Notwithstanding  I  was  employed  in  a  large  inn, 
and  had  sometimes  the  care  of  the  whole  house  upon  my 
hands,  yet  I  composed  two  or  three  sermons,  and  dedicated 
one  of  them  to  my  elder  brother." 

From  George's  example  of  success,  let  poor,  laboring  boys 
take  courage,  and  "be  of  good  cheer."  Toil  on,  boys  !  toil  on! 
God  alone  knows  to  what  eminence  you  may  attain.  "  Labor 
conquers  all  things" — no  excellence  without  it. 


CHAPTER     II 


whitefield's  education  and  conversion, 

T  THE  close  of  chapter  first,  we  left  young 
VVliitefield  in  the  inn,  washing  mops  and 
composing  sermons,  with  a  strong  desire  to 
go  to  Oxford. 

Although  in  early  life,  George  "was  so 
brutish  as  to  hate  instruction,  and  used  pur- 
posely to  shun  all  opportunities  to  get  it;"  yet 
convinced  of  his  natural  talents  and  outcome, 
his  mother  was  now  veiy  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  school. 
Her  poverty  and  inability  to  educate  him  as  she  wished  gave 
her  much  trouble.  "From  his  youth,"  says  Brown's  Religious. 
Encyclopaedia,  "George  was  endowed  with  extraordinary^ 
talents."  At  what  age  and  what  school  he  first  attended, 
hiistory  does  not  inform  us.  We  first  find  him  going  to  a 
school  in  Gloucester  when  about  ten  years  old,  from  which  he 
was  transferred,  when  about  twelve,  to  the  Grammar  School 
of  St.  Mary  de  Crypt,  where  he  continued  about  three  years 
and  received  his  academic  education.  Here  "he  made  great 
progress  in  the  Latin  classics."  When  about  fifteen,  owing 
to  his  mother's  pecuniar}^  embarrassments,  his  education  was 
for  a  time  arrested.  His  mother  now  gave  up  the  hotel  and 
rented  it  to  one  of  her  older  sons,  with  whom  George 
remained  (a  while)  until  he  finally  left  the  hotel  and  went 
and  spent  a  few  weeks  with  his  eldest  brother  in  Bristol. 

While  George  was  thus  unemployed,  with  no  definite  object 
or  plan  before  him,  waiting  the  indications    of  Providence,  a 

(24) 


WHITEFIELDS    EDUCATION    AND    CONVERSION.  25 

servitor  student  of  Pembroke  College,  Oxford,  visited  his 
mother.  In  the  course  of  his  conversation  about  college 
affairs,  he  remarked  that  after  all  his  expenses  for  the  quarter 
were  paid,  he  had  one  penny  left ;  upon  which  she  exclaimed 
with  much  gratification,  "  This  will  do  for  my  son ;"  and  turn- 
ing to  him,  said,  "  Will  you  go  to  Oxford,  George?"  To  which 
he  immediately  replied,  "With  all  my  heart!"  "The  die  is 
cast."  The  Rubicon  is  crossed,  and  his  destiny  is  fixed. 
Application  was  at  once  made  to  some  influential  friends,  who 
pledged  themselves  to  use  every  exertion  to  secure  a  servitor's 
place  for  George;  whereupon  he  plucked  up  fresh  courage, 
returned  to  the  Grammar  School,  resumed  his  studies  witli 
renewed  zeal,  lived  more  prayerfully,  and  endeavored  to  pro- 
mote piety  and  virtue  among  his  associates. 

Although  George  indulged  in  some  vicious  habits  and 
"  roguish  tricks"  in  early  life,  yet  possessing  a  warm  heart  and 
a  devout,  tender  disposition,  he  often  underwent,  for  years 
before  his  conversion,  frequent  probes  of  conscience,  convic- 
tions of  sin,  and  deep  religious  impressions. 

But  during  his  first  stay  at  the  Grammar  School,  these 
impressions  seemed  to  decline  somewhat,  which,  however, 
during  his  busy  life  at  the  hotel,  it  pleased  God  to  renew,  and 
the  young  hero  was  led  with  increased  earnestness  to  seek  tlic 
salvation  of  his  soul.  Yet  with  all  these  trials,  impressions  an'l 
experiences,  the  general  course  of  his  life  up  to  the  age  of 
sixteen  was  irreligious. 

Brought  up  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  having  rid  himself 
of  the  pernicious  influence  of  some  immoral,  alluring  young 
men,  to  which  he  had  been  exposed,  with  his  religious  impres- 
sions deepened,  he  set  out  afresh  to  live  a  religious  life :  and 
giving  close  attention  to  devotional  reading,  he  laid  aside  his 
novels   and  took  up  Thomas  a  Kempis'  Imitation  of  Christ 


26  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

He  now  attended  public  worship  twice  a  day,  fasted  often, 
prayed  much  in  secret,  and  at  seventeen  was  confirmed  and 
received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  every  month. 


WHITEFIELD    GOES   TO    COLLEGE, 

Having  finished  his  academical  course,  young  Whitefield, 
now  about  eighteen  years  old,  went  to  Oxford  Uiiiversity  in 
1734,  and  was  at  once  admitted  as  servitor  in  Pembroke  Col- 
lege. This  was  a  very  important  step  in  George's  life;  and  to 
encourage  him  in  his  laudable  undertaking,  a  kind  friend  im- 
mediately lent  him  ten  pounds  (which  Whitefield  afterwards  re- 
turned) to  pay  his  matriculation  fee.  With  these  bright  pros- 
pects before  him,  our  young  servitor  entered  upon  his  duties  at 
college  with  a  buoyant  heart.  In  discharging  his  duties  as 
servitor,  he  soon  found  the  advantages  of  having  been  trained  at 
a  public  house;  and  being  expert  in  his  business,  many  students 
soon  sought  his  attendance,  which  helped  to  increase  his  in- 
come ;  and  being  aided  by  the  liberal  gifts  of  a  generous 
tutor,  he  was  able,  by  strict  economy,  to  work  his  way  through 
without  being  more  than  about  twenty-five  pounds  in  debt  at  the 
end  of  three  years.  Although  thus  encouraged  in  the  outset  at 
Oxford,  he  soon  found  himself  much  exposed  to  the  immorali- 
ties of  the  students,  at  which  he  was  sorely  vexed  and  terribly 
shocked.  Here  he  says,  "  I  got  acquainted  with  such  a  set  of 
debauched,  abandoned,  atheistical  youths,  that  I  went  to  church 
only  to  make  sport  and  walk  about.  I  took  pleasure  in  their 
lewd  conversation.  In  short,  I  soon  made  great  progress  in  the 
school  of  the  devil."  And  being  conscious  of  the  danger,  he 
shunned  their  society  as  much  as  possible.  The  University  had 
not  yet  recovered  from  the  moral  shock  received  by  the  expul- 
sion of  two  thousand  Non-Conformists  from  the  Established 


WHITEFIELU'S    EDUCATION    AND    CONVERSION.  2/ 

Church,  by  the  "Act  of  Uniformity,"  in  1662,  and  the  morals  at 
Oxford  were  very  low. 

And  says  he,  "I  was  quickly  solicited  to  join  in  their  excess 
of  riot,  by  several  who  lay  in  the  same  room.  Once  in  particu- 
lar, it  being-  cold,  my  limbs  were  so  benumbed  by  sitting  alone 
in  my  study,  because  I  would  not  go  out  amongst  them,  that 
I  could  scarcely  sleep  all  night.  I  had  no  sooner  received 
the  sacrament  publicly  on  a  week  day,  at  St.  Mary's,  but  I  was 
set  up  as  a  mark  for  all  the  polite  students  that  knew  me  to 
shoot  at." 

'  But  among  all  these  "  rank  thorns  at  Oxford,"  there  were  a 
few  lilies.  There  was  a  little  "  Holy  Club"  (so-called)  at  Oxford, 
formed  by  Charles  Wesley,  which,  in  November,  1729,  consisted 
of  only  four  members — John  Wesley,  Charles  Wesley,  Richard 
Morgan,  and  Robert  Kirkham.  They  agreed  to  meet  and 
spend  three  or  four  evenings  in  a  week  for  intellectual  and 
moral  culture.  On  Sabbath  evenings  they  read  the  Greek  Tes- 
tament or  something  in  divinity.  On  the  other  evenings  they 
read  the  Greek  or  Latin  classics.  But  they  soon  made  religion 
the  chief  object  of  their  meetings.  In  1732  John  Clayton  and 
J.  Broughton  joined  them.  The  next  year  Benjamin  Ingham, 
James  Hervey  (author  of  the  Meditations),  and  two  or  three 
others  were  added;  and  1735  George  Whitefield  united  with 
them.  They  now  numbered  about  fifteen,  "  all  of  one  heart  and 
of  one  mind."  And  either  in  jest  or  by  way  of  derision,  or 
rather  because  they  ''lived  by  rule  and  method"  they  were  called 
Methodists.  They  were  generally  despised  and  much  talked 
about.  "  Practically  they  had  all  things  common,"  and  all  be- 
longed to  the  Established  Church  of  England.  They  received 
the  Lord's  Supper  weekly,  prayed  and  fasted  much,  and  regu- 
larly visited  and  instructed  the  poor,  the  sick,  and  the  prisoners. 
John  Wesley,  owing  to  his  superior  experience  and  ability,  was 


25  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

their  acknowledged  leader,  and  was  called  "the  Curator  of  the 
Holy  Club."*  Their  regular  habits  and  upright  lives  "  were 
proverbial  throughout  the  University  and  the  city."  And 
although  their  object,  in  all  their  voluntary  privations  and  earn- 
est efforts,  "  was  to  save  their  souls,  and  to  live  wholly  to  the 
glory  of  God,"  yet  they  seemed  to  know  but  little  or  nothing 
about  the  plan  of  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ.  Influenced  by  the 
mystic  views  of  Rev.  Wm.  Law,  says  Dr.  Philip,  they  imitated  his 
ascetic  habits,  and  imbibed  his  spirit  of  qiiiedsvt.  Their  devo- 
tional habits  and  religious  views,  says  Dr.  Philip,  when  White- 
field  went  to  Oxford,  will  be  seen  from  the  following  routine  of 
devotional  exercises.  "  They  interrogate  themselves  whether 
they  have  been  simple  and  recollected ;  whether  they  have 
prayed  with  feivor,  Monday,  Wednesday,  Friday,  and  on  Satur- 
day noon  ;  if  they  have  used  a  collect  at  nine,  twelve,  and  three 
o'clock ;  duly  meditated  on  Sunday  from  three  to  four  on 
Thomas  a  Kempis,  or  mused  on  Wednesday  and  Friday, 
from  twelve  to  one,  on  the  Passion." 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  "  Holy  Club,"  among  whose 
society  the  tender  heart  and  susceptible  mind  of  young  White- 
field  was  thrown  when  he  was  earnestly  seeking  his  soul's  sal- 
vation.    His  mind  had  been  powerfully  wrought  upon  by  read- 

*This,  says  John  Wesley,  was  "  the  first  rise  of  Methodism,"  from  which  has 
^own,  in  al)out  130  years,  the  great  and  powerful  Methodist  Church  of  the  United 
States,  Great  Britain,  and  of  the  world,  "which,  in  1869,  numbered  21,875  '''^v- 
eling  preachers;  2,901,202  members  (besides  probationers);  3,400,373  Sunday 
School  Scholars,  and  5,802,404  mere  hearers,  making  in  all,  12,103,979  receiv- 
ing Methodist  instruction  weekly." — Tvcrmiui^s  Life  of  Wesley. 

The  name  Methodixt  was  first  given  to  Charles  Wesley  and  his  few  adherents 
before  his  brother  John  joined  them,  which  was  in  1729.  The  epithet  was  not 
then  «ifiy,  however.  We  hear,  says  Abel  Stevens,  of  "the  Anabaptists  and  the 
plain  pack-staff  Methodists  one  hundred  years  before  this  date."  Mosheim  speaks 
of  the  "  Popish  Methodists"  in  1686.  And  the  name  was  applied  to  a  sect  of  Non- 
conformists in  1693,  respecting  their  views  of  the  method  or  way  of  justification. 


WHITEFIELDS    EDUCATION    AND    CONVERSION.  29 

ing  "  Law's  Serious  Call  to  a  Devout  Life,"  before  he  went  to 
Oxford,  and  having  learned  about  the  character  of  .the  "  Holy- 
Club,"  he  at  once  longed  to  join  it.  But  being  a  poor  boy  and 
a  servitor,  he  felt  his  inferiority,  and  had  no  way  to  get  ac- 
quainted. At  last,  after  he  had  been  at  Oxford  about  a  year, 
the  way  was  opened.  A  poor  woman  had  attempted  suicide ; 
and  moved  with  compassion,  Whitefield  sent  an  old  apple-woman 
to  tell  Mr.  Charles  Wesley,  that  he  might  visit  her,  charging 
her  not  to  tell  him  who  sent  her ;  but  she  did ;  and  Mr.  Wesley 
•having  heard  about  Whitefield's  character  and  habits,  invited 
him  to  breakfast  the  next  morning.  With  a  soul  thirsting  for 
spiritual  friends  and  spiritual  strength,  he  at  once  thankfully 
embraced  the  opportunity  and  went.  Mr.  Wesley  perceiving 
his  distressed  condition,  endeavored  to  adapt  his  conversation 
to  his  wants.  And  to  encourage  and  give  him  further  instruc- 
tion he  gave  him  "  Professor  Frank's  Treatise  against  the  Fear 
of  Man,"  and  "  1 1.  j  Country  Parson's  Advice  to  his  Parishioners," 
to  read  at  his  leisure.  An  introduction  to  the  "  Holy  Club  " 
soon  followed,  and  Mr.  Whitefield,  like  them,  "began  to  live  by 
rule  and  method,  and  to  pick  up  the  veiy  fragments  of  his  time, 
that  not  a  moment  be  lost."  "  In  a  short  time,"  says  White- 
field,  "  Charles  Wesley  let  me  have  another  book,  entitled  ^ 
'  The  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man,'  and  though  I  had  fasted, 
watched,  and  prayed,  and  received  the  sacrament  so  long,  yet  I 
never  knew  what  tnie  religion  was,  till  God  sent  me  that  excellent 
treatise,  by  the  hands  of  my  never-to-be-forgotten  friend.  At 
my  first  reading  it,  I  wondered  what  the  author  meant  by  say- 
ing, '  That  some  falsely  placed  religion  in  going  to  Church, 
doing  hurt  to  no  one,  being  constant  in  the  duties  of  the  closet, 
and  now  and  then  reaching  out  their  hands  to  give  alms  to  their 
poor  neighbors.'  Alas  !  thought  I,  if  this  be  not  religion,  zvhat 
is?     God  soon  showed  me  (in  reading  a  few  lines   further,) 


* 


30  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

'  '  tJiat  tnw  religion  was  a  imion  of  the  soul  with  God,  and  Chnst 
formed  within  us.'     A  ray  of  divine  light  was^  instantaneously 

darted  in  upon  my  soul,  and  from  that  moment,  but  not  till  then, 

did  I  know  that  /  7m/st  be  a  new  creature T 


his  struggle  in  conversion. 

Thus  far,  being  ignorant  of  God's  righteousness,  "  Whitefield 
went  about  to  establish  a  righteousness  of  his  own ;"  but  now, 
like  Paul,  he  ''  mw  a  great  light  \'  and  being  for  the  first  time 
convinced  of  the  Jtecessity  of  regeneration,  and  seeing  and  feel- 
ing that  he  "  in7tst  be  born  again,"  it  was  a  very  important  crisis 
in  his  religious  experience.  It  was  the  turning  point  in  his  sal- 
vation and  future  usefulness.  He  was  now  in  the  right  way  to 
the  Cross,  but  for  the  want  of  light  and  proper  instruction,  he 
was  long  in  reaching  it.  Like  Saul  of  Tarsus,  his  struggle  for 
the  new  birth  was  unusually  severe.  Yet  with  many  "  agonizing 
self-conflicts,"  he  went  on  in  it  with  unyielding  perseverance  and 
great  self-denial.  He  was  so  earnest  in  it,  that  he  practiced 
such  great  austerities,  and  acts  of  self-mortification,  that  it  came 
near  costing  him  his  life.  Dflring  Lent  "he  prayed  and  fasted 
himself  almost  to  death."  His  mind  and  memory  were  so  much 
impaired,  that  says  he,  "  Whenever  I  endeavored  to  compose  my 
theme,  I  had  no  power  to  write  a  word,  nor  so  much  as  to  tell 
my  Christian  friends  o{  my  inability  to  do  it.  All  power  of 
meditating,  or  even  of  thinking,  was  taken  from  me.  My 
memoiy  quite  failed  me ;  I  could  fancy  myself  to  be  like  nothing 
so  much  as  a  man  locked  up  in  an  iron  armor."  "  Whenever  1 
knelt  down,"  he  says,  "  I  felt  great  pressure  both  on  soul  and 
body  ;  and  have  often  prayed  under  the  weight  of  them  till  the 
sweat  came  through  me.  God  only  knows  how  many  nights  I 
have   lain   upon   my  bed  groaning  under  what  I  felt.     Whole 


WHITEFIELDS    EDUCATION    AND    CONVERSION.  3I 

days  and  weeks  have  I  spent  in  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground 
in  silent  or  vocal  prayer." 

And  having  twice  failed  to  hand  in  his  weekly  composition,  his 
tutor  called  him  to  an  account  for  his  failure,  and  after  fining 
him  for  it,  asked  him  the  reason,  whereupon  says  Whitefield, 
"  I  burst  into  tears,  and  assured  him  it  was  not  out  of  any  con- 
tempt of  authority,  but  because  I  could  not  act  otherwise." 

Mr.  Charles  Wesley  continued  to  instruct  him  "  as  he  was    i 
able  to  bear  it,"  and  going  on  in  his  religious  duties,  taking  the    f 
Sacrament  every  Sunday,  and  going  to  Church  three  times,  and  4> 
to   his   private   devotions  seven  times  a  day,  during   Lent,  he    ; 
says,  "  By  degrees  I  began  to  leave  off  eating  fruits  and  such    ^ 
like,  and  gave  the  money   I  usually  spent  in  that  way  to  the    ; 
poor.     Afterwards  I  always  chose  the  worst  sort  of  food,  though 
my  place  furnished  me  with  variety.     My  apparel   was  mean. 
I  thought  it  unbecoming  a  penitent  to  have  his  hair  powdered. 
I  wore  woolen  gloves,  a  patched  gown,  and  dirty  shoes ;    and 
though  I  was  then  convinced  that  the  Kingdom  of  God  did  not 
consist  in  meats  and  drinks,  yet  I  resolutely  persisted  in  these 
voluntar}^  acts  of  self-denial,  because  I   found  them  great  pro- 
moters of  the  spiritual  life.     It  was  now  suggested  to  me  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  among  the  ivild  beasts  when  He  was  tempted,  \ 
and  that  I  ought  to  follow  His  example  ;  and  being  willing,  as  I 
thought,  to  imitate  Jesus  Christ,  after  supper  I  went  into  Christ-  | 
Church  walk,  near  our  college,  and  continued  in  silent  prayer  ! 
nearly  two  hours;  sometimes  lying  flat  on  my  face,  sometimes    1 
kneeling    on    my  knees.     The   night  being  stormy,  gave  me    \ 
awful  thoughts  of  the  day  of  judgment.     The  next  night  I  re- 
peated the  same  exercise  at  the  same  place."     During  Lent  he 
ate  but  little  exctjpt  sage -tea  and  coarse  bread,  and  he  walked 
out  in  the  mornings  till  part  of  one  of  his  hands  was  black  with 
coki.     "This,"  he  says,  "with   my    continued    ab.stincnce  and 


32  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

inward  conflicts,  at  length  so  emaciated  my  body,  that,  at  Pas- 
sion week,  finding  I  could  scarce  creep  up  stairs,  I  was  obliged 
to  inform  my  kind  tutor  of  my  condition,  who  immediately  sent 
for  a  physician  for  me."  He  was  sick  about  seven  weeks,  during 
which  his  friends  the  Wesleys  and  his  tutor  were  very  kind  to 
him.  "  My  tutor,"  he  says,  "  lent  me  books,  gave  me  money, 
visited  me,  and  furnished  me  with  a  physician  ;  in  short,  he 
behaved  in  all  respects  like  a  father." 

As  he  advanced  in  the  struggle  it  is  painful  and  wonderful  to 
see  what  errors  and  extravagances  he  fell  into.  In  reading 
Castanza's  "  Spiritual  Combat,"  he  says,  "  Satan  so  imposed 
upon  my  understanding,  that  he  persuaded  me  to  shut  myself 
up  in  my  study  till  I  could  do  good  with  a  single  eye ;  lest,  in 
^  endeavoring  to  save  others,  I  should  at  last,  by  pride  and  self- 
complacence,  lose  myself  When  Castanza  advised  to  talk  but 
little,  Satan  said  I  must  not  talk  at  all ;  so  that  I,  who  used  to 
be  the  most  forward  in  exhorting  my  companions,  have  sat 
whole  nights  without  speaking  at  all." 

With  his  afflictions  sanctified,  Whitefield  calls  his  seven  weeks 
of  sickness  "  a  glorious  visit atio}i.  I  trust  I  shall  have  reason 
to  bless  God  for  it  through  the  endless  ages  of  eternity.  The 
blessed  Spirit  was  all  this  time  purifying  my  soul.  All  my  for- 
mer gross,  notorious,  and  even  my  heart  sins  also,  were  now  set 
home  upon  me,  of  which  I  wrote  down  some  remembrances 
immediately,  and  confessed  them  before  God  morning  and  even- 
ing." Fresh  light  having  dawned  upon  his  mind,  he  began  to 
rise  out  of  the  fog  of  quietism  and  self-righteousness.  And  now, 
deeply  feeling  his  sins  and  the  need  of  a  Saviour,  and  having 
failed  through  a  long  series  of  monkish  austerities  to  obtain 
peace  to  his  troubled  soul,  and  being  now,  as  it  were,  "shut  tip 
to  the  faith,"  he  betook  himself  to  a  more  diligent  study  of  the 
Scriptures.     "Though   weak,"   (he    says),  "I   often   spent   two 


whitefield's  education  and  conversion.  33 

hours  in  my  evening  retirements,  and  prayed  over  my  Greek 
Testament  and  Bishop  Hall's  most  excellent  'Contemplations'." 
While  thus  engaged  in  searching  the  Scriptures,  and  searching 
for  Jesus  with  all  his  heart,  he  discovered  the  great  doctrine  of 
justification  by  faith;  and  the  gospel  of  Christ  was  soon  made 
the  power  of  God  unto  his  salvation. 

On  one  occasion,  with  his  tongue  parched  with  fever,  while 
lying  in  bed,  and  searching  for  salvation,  the  Saviour's  dying 
words,  "  /  thirst,"  were  deeply  impressed  upon  his  mind.  And 
while  dwelling  on  the  melting  scene  of  Calvary,  as  this  thirst 
was  felt  by  the  Saviour  near  His  death,  the  thought  occurred 
to  him,  "Why  may  it  not  be  so  with  me?  Why  may  I  not 
now  receive  deliverance  and  comfort?  Why  may  I  not  now 
dare  to  trust  and  rejoice  in  the  pardoning  mercy  of  God?" 
Having  recovered  from  a  long  spell  of  sickness,  for  which  he 
tlianked  God,  and  "having  thus,"  says  he,  "undergone  innu- 
merable  buffetings  of  Satan,  and  many  months  of  inexpressible 
trials,  by  night  and  by  day,  under  the  spirit  of  bondage,  God 
was  pleased  at  length,  to  remove  the  heavy  load,  to  enable  me 
to  lay  hold  on  His  dear  Son  by  a  living  faith,  and,  by  giving  me 
the  spirit  of  adoption,  to  seal  me,  as  I  humbly  hope,  even  to  the 
day  of  everlasting  redemption.  I  found  and  felt  in  myself,  that 
I  was  delivered  from  the  burden  that  had  so  heavily  oppressed 
me.  The  spirit  of  mourning  was  taken  from  me,  and  I  knew 
what  it  was  truly  to  rejoice  in  God  my  Saviour."  "I  know  the  ; 
place ;  it  may  perhaps  be  superstitious,  but  whenever  I  go  to 
Oxford,  I  cannot  help  running  to  the  spot  where  Jesus  Christ 
first  revealed  Himself  to  me  and  gave  me  the  new  birth.  But 
oh!  with  what  joy,  joy  unspeakable,  even  joy  that  was  full  of, 
and  big  with  glory,  was  my  soul  filled,  when  the  weight  of  sin 
went  off,  and  an  abiding  sense  of  the  pardoning  love  of  God,  and 
a  full  assurance  of  faith,  broke  in  upon  my  disconsolate  soul ! 


34  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Surely  it  was  the  day  of  my  espousal,  a  day  to  be  had  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance.  At  first  my  joys  were  Hke  a  spring  tide, 
and,  as  it  were,  overflowed  the  banks.  For  some  time  I  could 
not  avoid  singing  psalms,  wherever  I  was  ;  but  my  joys  became 
gradually  more  settled,  and  blessed  be  God,  save  a  few  casual 
intervals,  have  abode  and  increased  in  my  soul  ever  since." 
He  wrote  this  in  1756. 

Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  conversion  of  Whitefield !  How 
glorious  and  important  the  event !  What  a  great  increase  of 
strength  it  brought  into  the  Church  !  And  if  there  is  joy  in 
heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  well  might  the  world 
have  shouted,  "  Glory  to  God,"  when  Whitefield  was  converted. 

Mr,  Whitefield  had  a  very  warm  attachment  for  Rev.  Charles 
Wesley,  and  because  his  ministry  was  so  full  of  profit  and  com- 
fort to  him,  he  always  regarded  him  as  his  spiritual  father ;  yet 
he  was  converted  about  three  years  before  either  Charles  or 
John  Wesley.  He  was,  therefore  no  AovikA,\}ciQ.  first  converted 
preacher  of  the  "Holy  Club,"  or  of  the  "  Oxford  Methodists."* 
Charles  Wesley  also  had  a  veiy  affectionate  regard  for 
Whitefield.  Having  thus  "passed  from  death  unto  life,"  and 
feeling  so  overjoyed  upon  his  conversion,  Whitefield  could 
not  rest  till  he  wrote  to  his  relatives,  "  telling  them  that 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  the  Nezv  Birth.  I  iniagined  they 
would    have  gladly  received'  it ;  but  alas !    my  words  seemed 

*  Says  Tyerman,  Charles  Wesley  was  converted  May  21,  1738, — and  John,  May 
24,  1738,  about  eleven  years  after  he  began  to  preach. 

Although  the  epoch  of  Methodism  dates,  according  to  John  Wesley,  from  the 
formation  of  the  "  Holy  Club,"  or  Oxford  Methodists,  in  1729,  yet  that  "  Club  ■' 
was  not  what  we  now  call  a  rej^ular  organized  church.  The  members  of  the 
"  Holy  Club  "  were  all  zealous  members  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  first 
Methodist  church  was  organized  by  John  Wesley  at  Moorfields,  near  London, 
with  eight  or  ten  members,  in  1739,  and  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  Methodis; 
chapel  was  laid  May  12.  of  the  same  year, 


WHITEFIELDS    EDUCATION    AND    CONVERSION.  35 

to   them    as  idle    tales.      They  thought    I   was    going    beside 
myself." 

Notwithstanding  the  "severe  ordeal  of  agonizing  self- 
conflicts,"  through  which  Whitefield  passed  before  his  con- 
version, and  although  he  regarded  them  as  "the  dealings  of 
God"  with  hiai,  as  the  preparatory  itcps  which  led  to  his 
conversion,  yet,  doubtless,  had  he  enjoyed  the  instruction  of 
a  converted  or  more  spiritual  guide,  and  have  knozvn  the  tvaj 
of  life,  his  conflict  most  probably  would  have  issued  in  conver- 
sion much  sooner.  And  yet,  he  delighted  in  those  severe 
austerities,  and  said  in  a  letter  written  about  this  time,  "  There 
is  really  more  pleasure  in  these  formidable  duties  of  self-denial 
and  mortification  than  in  the  highest  indulgences  of  the  great- 
est epicure  upon  earth."  His  great  want  at  this  time  was  light 
He  was  so  ignorant  of  the  nature  and  necessity  of  regeneration 
that  he  said,  "  I  knew  no  more  that  I  must  be  born  again  in 
God,  born  again  in  Christ  Jesus,  than  if  I  had  never  been  born 
at  all.  Hence,  let  all  learn  the  great  importance  of  knozving 
wliat  to  do  to  be  saved!' 


CHAPTER    III 


HIS    ORDINATION. 

'ROSTRATED  by  his  severe  pangs  of  regener- 
ation, the  new  convert  now  needed  rest  and 
a  change  of  air.  But  as  part  of  the  "  Holy 
Ckib"  had  now  left  Oxford  (the  Wesleys  being 
tlien  in  Georgia),  Whitefield  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  it,  with  an  annuity  of  twenty  pounds, 
given  by  Sir  John  Philip  of  London,  with  the 
promise  of  ten  more  if  he  would  stay ;  but 
owing  to  his  feeble  health,  urged  by  his  mother,  tutor  and 
physician,  he  now  left  "his  sweet  retirement"  at  Oxford  for  a 
time,  and  returned  home  to  Gloucester.  On  reaching  home 
he  says,  "  My  friends  were  surprised  to  see  me  look  and  be- 
have so  cheerfully,  after  what  they  had  heard  about  me."  But 
he  soon  found  himself  like  a  sheep  among  wolves,  for  they 
at  once  began  to  dissuade  him  from  his  religious  duties ;  but 
watching  and  praying,  God  enabled  him  to  stand  fast  and  to 
triumph  over  all. 

And  now,  with  a  deep  consciousness  of  the  "  great  things 
God  had  done  for  him,"  like  the  newly  converted  Paul,  he 
began  to  pray,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  With 
a  heart  fired  with  zeal,  he  at  once  began  to  live  and  labor  for 
Christ.  Deeply  feeling  the  want  of  religious  associates  at 
home,  after  having  besought  the  Lord  for  them,  he  determined 

"/  will  endeavor  either  to  find  or  make  a  friend','  and  after 

(  36 ) 


HIS   ORDINATION.  37 

much  importunate  prayer  about  the  matter,  he  called  at  the 
house  of  Mrs.  W — ,  to  whom  he  had  formerly  read  plays, 
Spectators,  etc.,  hoping  as  he  says,  "  the  change  she  now  would 
find  in  my  sentiments  might,  under  God,  influence  her  soul. 
God  was  pleased  to  bless  the  visit  with  the  desired  effect.  She 
received  the  word  gladly,  and  soon  became  hopefully  con- 
verted." God  also  soon  made  him  instrumental  in  awakening 
several  young  persons,  who,  at  once  formed  themselves  into 
a  little  society,  which  soon  had  the  honor  of  being  despised 
like  the  "  Holy  Club  "  at  Oxford. 

As  these,  his  first  efforts  in  striving  to  win  souls,  may  be 
regarded  as  the  dawn  of  his  future  zeal  and  success,  we  notice, 
just  here,  his  manner  oi  preparing  himself  for  the  work. 

"  My  mind  being  now  more  open  and  enlarged,  I  began  to 
read  the  holy  Scriptures"  upon  my  knees;  laying  aside  all 
other  books,  and  praying  over  (if  possible)  every  line  and 
word.  This  proved  meat  indeed,  and  drink  indeed,  to  my  soul. 
I  daily  received  fresh  life,  light,  and  power  from  above.  I  got 
more  true  knowledge  from  reading  the  book  of  God,  in  one 
month,  than  I  could  ever  have  acquired  from  all  the  writings 
of  men.  In  one  word,  I  found  it  profitable  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction,  every  way  sufficient  to  make  the 
man  of  God  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  for  every  good 
work  and  word."  About  this  time,  he  received  fresh  light 
and  obtained  clear  views  of  the  great  doctrine  of  ''  jfiistificatwii 
by  Faith  only ; "  while  his  Oxford  friends  still  "  rather  inclined 
to  the  mystic  divinityy 

"  Burkitt's  and  Henry's  Expositions,"  he  says,  "  were  of  great 
use  to  lead  me  into  this  and  all  other  gospel  truths.  It  is  the 
good  old  doctrine  of  the  Church  of  England ;  it  is  what  the 
holy  martyrs  in  Queen  Mary's  time  sealed  with  their  blood." 
In  mixing  their  exercises  and  preparations  with  much  secret 


38  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

prayer,  he  exclaims,  "Oh,  what  sweet  communion  had  I  daily 
vouchsafed  with  God  in  prayer  after  my  coming  to  Gloucester. 
How  often  have  I  been  carried  out  beyond  myself  when  medi- 
tating in  the  fields  !  How  assuredly  I  felt  that  Christ  dwelt  ' 
in  me,  and  I  in  Him,  and  how  daily  did  I  walk  in  the  comforts 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  was  edified  and  refreshed  in  the  multi- 
tudes of  peace  !"  Going  on  in  his  arduous  labors  to  save  souls, 
he  says,  "I  always  observed  that  as  my  inward  strength  in- 
creased, my  outward  sphere  of  action  increased  proportionately. 
In  a  short  time,  therefore,  1  began  to  read  to  some  poor  people 
twice  or  thrice  a  week.  I  likewise  visited  two  other  little 
societies  besides  my  own.  Occasionally,  as  business  and  oppor- 
tunity permitted,  I  generally  visited  one  or  two  sick  persons 
every  day ;  and  though  silver  and  gold  I  had  little  of  my  own, 
yet  in  imitation  of  my  Lord's  disciples,  who  entreated  in  behalf 
of  the  fainting  multitude,  I  used  to  pray  unto  Him;  and  He 
from  time  to  time  inclined  several  that  were  rich  in  this  world, 
to  give  me  money;  so  that  I  generally  had  a  little  stock  for  the 
poor  always  in  my  hand.  One  of  the  poor,  whom  I  visited  in 
this  manner,  was  called  effectually  by  God  at  the  eleventh  hour: 
she  was  a  woman  above  three-score  years  old,  and  I  really  be- 
lieve died  in  the  true  faith  of  Jesus  Christ." 

With  a  heart  full  of  sympathy  and  compassion,  Whitefield 
cared  much  for  the  poor  and  distressed.  Being  accustomed  to 
visit  the  prisoners  at  Oxford,  on  his  return  home  he  earnestly 
prayed  that  God  would  open  the  way  for  him  to  visit  them 
there.  And  having  dreamed  one  night  that  a  prisoner  came  to 
him  for  instruction,  he  went  next  morning  and  knocked  at  the 
door  of  the  county  jail — but  as  no  one  answered,  he  prayed 
again,  and  some  months  after  he  received  word  that  an  Oxford 
prisoner  had  escaped,  and  had  been  recaptured  and  lodged  in  - 
the  Gloucester  jail.     His  name  was  Pebworth.     He  went  again 


HIS    ORDINATION.  39 

and  found  him ;  and  finding  him  and  others  wilHng  to  hear  the 
Word  of  God,  he  read  and  praye'd  with  them  every  day  he  was 
in  town.  He  also  begged  money  and  had  some  of  them  re- 
leased, and  supplied  others  with  food  and  books.  Having  spent 
some  nine  months  in  this  good  work  and  labor  of  love,  and  in 
studying  the  works  of  the  non-conformists,  such  as  Baxter's 
Call  and  Allein's  Alarm,  he  found  that  the  partition  wall  of 
bigotry  and  sect-religion  was  so  much  broken  down  in  his  heart, 
that  he  said,  "  I  love  all  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity." 
He -was  now  so  intent  on  winning  souls,  that  he  earnestly 
labored  for  it  by  day,  and  dreamed  of  it  by  night. 

During  these  nine  months  of  earnest  effort,  although  uncon- 
scious of  the  fact,  Whitefield  was  preparing  himself  for  ordina- 
tion. And  by  this  time  his  numerous  friends  in  Gloucester 
were  very  anxious  to  have  him  ordained  immediately.  But 
with  his  exalted  views  of  the  sanctity  and  importance  of  the 
ministerial  office,  he  directly  refused,  grounding  his  refusal  upon 
the  diocesan  resolution,  "  not  to  ordain  any  under  twenty-three 
years  of  age ;"  and  he  was  not  yet  quite  twenty-one.  But 
this  apparently  insurmountable  difficulty  was  soon  removed. 
Whitefield,  by  his  known  zeal  and  success  in  doing  good,  had 
already  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  Bishop  Benson. 
Besides,  he  had  about  this  time  made  the  acquaintance  of  Lady 
Selwyn,  who  kindly  befriended  him  with  a  little  pecuniary  aid, 
and  highly  recommended  him  to  Bishop  Benson  as  a  proper 
subject  for  ordination.  The  project  succeeded.  The  Bishop  soon 
sent  for  Whitefield.  He  went  to  see  him  and  was  very  kindly 
rec  .ived.  Whitefield  says  :  "  The  Bishop  told  me  that  he  had 
heard  of  my  character ;  that  he  liked  my  behavior  at  church  ; 
and,  inquiring  my  age,  said,  '  Notwithstanding  I  have  declared  I 
would  not  ordain  any  one  under  three-and-twenty,  yet  I  shall 
think  it  my  duty  to  ordain  you  \vhenever  you   come  for  holy 


40  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

orders.'  He  then  made  me  a  present  of  five  guineas  to  buy  me 
a  book."  Although  the  chief  external  hindrance  was  thus  re- 
moved, yet,  with  his  exalted  views  of  the  dignity  and  impor- 
tance of  the  ministerial  office,  Whitefield  so  dreaded  its  respon- 
sibilities, that  it  made  him  tremble  whenever  he  thought  of 
undertaking  it.  And  it  was  not  without  a  hard  struggle  that 
he  got  the  consent  of  his  heart  to  do  it. 

Says  he,  "  I  never  prayed  against  any  corruption  I  had  in  my 
life  so  much  as  I  prayed  against  going  into  holy  orders  so  soon. 
Bishop  Benson  was  pleased  to  honor  me  with  peculiar  friend- 
ship, so  as  to  offer  me  preferment,  or  to  do  any  thing  for  me." 
Whitefield's  friends  were  now  for  pushing  him  into  the  ministry, 
but  feeling  the  awful  responsibility  of  the  ofiice,  he  prayed  with 
all  his  might  to  be  kept  out  of  it.  He  says,  "  I  prayed  a  thous- 
and times,  till  the  sweat  has  dropt  from  my  face  like  rain,  that 
God  of  His  infinite  mercy  would  not  let  me  enter  the  pulpit  till 
He  called  me  and  thrust  me  forth  in  His  work.  I  remember 
once  in  Gloucester — I  know  the  room ;  I  look  up  to  the  window 
when  I  am  there  and  walk  along  the  street — I  said,  *  Lord,  I 
cannot  go.  I  shall  be  puffed  up  with  pride,  and  fall  into  the 
condemnation  of  the  devil.  Lord,  do  not  let  me  go  yet!  I 
pleaded  to  be  at  Oxford  two  or  three  years  more.  I  intended 
to  make  one  hundred  and  fifty  sermons,  and  thought  I  would 
set  up  with  a  good  stock  in  trade.  Oftentimes  I  have  been  in 
an  agony  in  prayer,  when  under  convictions  of  my  insuffi- 
ciency for  so  great  a  work.  I  remember  praying,  wrestling, 
and  striving  with  God.  I  said,  'I  am  undone,  1  am  unfit  to 
preach  in  Thy  great  name.  Send  me  not.  Lord,  sejid  me  not 
yet!  I  wrote  to  all  my  friends  in  town  and  in  the  country  to 
pray  against  the  bishop's  solicitations ;  but  they  insisted  I 
should  go  into  orders  before  I  was  twenty-two.  An  aged, 
wf^irthy  minister  to  whom   I  wrote  for  advice  on  the  subject, 


HIS    ORDINATION.  4I 

replied,  '  If  Saint  Paul  were  in  Gloucester  to-day,  I  believe  he 
would  ordain  you.'  After  all  their  solicitations,  these  words 
came  into  my  mind:  'Nothing  shall  pluck  you  out  of  my 
hands ;'  they  came  warm  to  my  heart.  Then,  and  not  till  then, 
I  said,  '  Lord,  I  will  go.     Send  me  when  Thou  wilt.' " 

Having  at  last  decided  upon  ordination,  like  the  Saviour,  in 
all  his  public  acts,  he  made  special  preparation  by  prayer  and 
self-examination.  After  satisfying  himself  of  the  truth  of  the 
"Thirty-nine  Articles,"  by  closely  comparing  them  with 
the  Scriptures,  he  says,  "  I  strictly  examined  myself  by  the 
qualifications  required  for  a  minister,  in  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to 
Timothy,  and  also  by  eveiy  question  that  I  knew  would  be  put 
to  me  at  the  time  of  my  ordination;"  the  latter  of  which  he 
reduced  to  writing. 

Trinity  Sunday,  June  20,  1736,  was  set  apart  for  his  ordina- 
tion at  Gloucester.  About  two  weeks  before  the  time  he  went 
there  to  compose  some  sermons  and  give  himself  more  especially 
to  prayer.  But  he  says,  "  When  I  came  to  Gloucester,  notwith- 
standing I  strove  and  prayed  for  several  days,  and  had  matter 
enough  in  my  heart,  yet  I  was  so  restrained,  that  I  could  not 
compose  anything  at  all.  The  remainder  of  the  fortnight  I 
spent  in  reading  the  several  missions  of  the  prophets  and  apos- 
tles, and  wrestled  with  God  to  give  me  grace  to  follow  their 
good  example." 

"About  three  days  before  the  time  appointed,  the  bishop  came 
to  town.  The  next  evening  I  sent  his  lordship  an  abstract 
of  my  private  examination  upon  these  two  questions:  '  Do  you 
trust  that  you  are  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take 
upon  you  this  office  and  administration  ?'  And  'Are  you  called 
according  to  the  will  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  laws  of 
this  realm  ?'  The  next  morning  I  waited  upon  the  bishop.  He 
received  me  with  much  love,  telling  me  he  was  glad  I  was 


42  LIFE    OF    WIUTEFIELD.  O 

come,  and  that  he  was  satisfied  with  the  preparation  I  had 
made.  Upon  this  I  took  my  leave ;  abashed  with  God's  good- 
ness to  such  a  wretch,  but,  withal,  exceedingly  rejoiced  that,  in 
every  circumstance,  He  had  made  my  way  into  the  ministry  so 
very  plain  before  my  face.  This,  I  think,  was  on  Friday.  The 
day  following  I  continued  in  abstinence  and  prayer.  In  the 
evening  I  retired  to  a  hill  near  the  town,  and  prayed  fervently 
for  about  two  hours  on  behalf  of  myself  and  those  that  were 
to  be  ordained  with  me.  On  Sunday  morning  I  rose  early,  and 
prayed  over  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to  Timothy,  and  more  particu- 
larly over  t/ia^  precept,  'Lei  no  one  despise  thy  youth.'  When  I 
went  up  to  the  altar,  I  could  think  of  nothing  but  Samuel's 
standing,  a  little  child,  before  the  Lord,  with  a  linen  ephod." 

Touching  his  examination,  he  said,  "  I  trust  I  answered  every 
question  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart ;  and  heartily  prayed 
that  God  might  say  amen.  And  when  the  bishop  laid  his 
hands  upon  my  head,  if  my  vile  heart  doth  not  deceive  me,  I 
offered  up  my  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body,  to  the  service  of 
God's  sanctuary.  Let  come  what  wih,  life  or  death,  depth  or 
height,  I  shall  henceforward  live  like  one  who  this  day,  in  the 
presence  of  men  and  angels,  took  the  holy  sacrament,  upon  the 
profession  of  being  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take 
upon  me  that  ministration  in  the  church.  I  can  call  heaven  and 
earth  to  witness,  that  when  the  bishop  laid  his  hand  upon  me, 

"  I  gave  myself  up  to  be  a  martyr  for  Him 
Who  hung  upon  the  cross  for  me. 

Known  unto  Him  are  all  future  events  and  contingencies;  I 
have  thrown  myself  blindfold,  and  I  trust  without  reserve,  into 
His  Almighty  hands."  These  are  wonderful  words,  and  spoken 
with  all  the  sincerity  of  a  heart  glowing  with  zeal,  and  love  ; 
filled  and  fired  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  they  reveal  a  spirit  of  self- 
denial,  determination,  and   consecration,    unequaled   since  the 


HTS    ORDINATION.  43 

days  of  tlic  apostles.  And  although  uttered  over  130  years 
ago,  they  still  seem  as  warm  and  fresh  as  though  spoken  but 
yesterday.  Uttered  by  one  when  standing  in  the*  threshold  of 
the  sacred  desk,  whose  matchless  eloquence  and  unparalleled 
success  has  since  astonished  the  world,  they  ought  to  inspire  a 
Whitefieldian  zeal  and  self-denial  in  every  minister's  heart. 

As  a  mark  of  respect,  the  bishop  made  him  another  present 
of  five  guineas,  "a  great  supply,"  said  Whitefield,  "  for  one  who 
had  not  a  guinea  in  the  world." 

The  following  interesting  letter,  written  on  the  day  of  his 
ordination,  expresses  more  fully  the  views  and  feelings  of  the 
young  deacon  upon  the  solemn  occasion: 

Gloucester,  June  20,  1736. 
My  Dear  Friend  : — This  is  a  day  much  to  be  remembered,  O  my  soul !  for 
about  noon,  I  was  solemnly  admitted  by  good  Bishop  Benson,  before  many  wit- 
nesses, into  holy  orders,  and  was,  blessed  be  GoD,  kept  composed  both  before  and 
after  imposition  of  hands.  I  endeavored  to  behave  with  unaffected  devotion ;  but 
not  suitable  enough  to  the  greatness  of  the  office  I  was  to  undertake.  At  the  same 
time,  I  trust,  I  answered  to  every  question  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  and 
heartily  prayed  that  God  might  say  amen.  "  I  hope  the  good  of  souls  will  be  my 
only  principle  of  action.  Let  come  what  will,  life  or  death,  depth  or  height,  I 
shall  henceforward  live  like  one  who  this  day,  in  the  presence  of  men  and  angels, 
took  the  sacrament,  upon  the  profession  of  being  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  take  upon  me  that  ministration  in  the  church.  This  I  began  with  read- 
ing prayers  to  the  prisoners  in  the  county  jail.  Whether  I  myself  shall  ever  have  the 
honor  of  styling  myself  a  prisoner  of  the  Lord,  I  know  not;  but  indeed,  my  dear 
friend,  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  witness,  that  when  the  bishop  laid  his  hands 
upon  me,  I  gave  myself  up  to  be  a  martyr  for  Him,  who  hung  upon  the  cross  for 
me.  Known  unto  Him  are  all  future  events  and  contingencies  ;  I  have  thrown 
myself  blindfold,  and  I  trust  without  reserve,  into  His  almighty  hands;  only  I 
would  have'  you  observe,  that  till  you  hear  of  my  dying  for,  or  in  my  work,  you 
will  not  be  apprised  of  all  the  preferment  that  is  expected  by 

Yours  &c.,  G.  W. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

HIS    FIRST    SERMON. 

HITEFIELD'S  open-hearted  unbosoming  of 
himself  in  his  ordination,  revealed  in  his 
heart  "a  secret  place  of  thunder,"  and  "a 
(cj,Lr^~^^  fountain  of  tears,"  and  pent  up  desires  from 
X ' V-fj^Sy^^^  which  great  things  might  naturally  be  ex- 
^}T\Y^:^^j!sP(     pccted.    Although  he  "set  up  with  so  small  a 


stock  "  of  sermons,  yet  armed  with  the  pan- 
oply of  heaven,  and  wrought  up  to  the  high- 
est pitch  of  ardor  with  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion  and  the 
importance  of  the  work,  his  first  sermon  was  a  complete  suc- 
cess. The  effect  was  wonderful.  Commencing  his  ministry 
with  a  deep  sense  of  his  own  weakness,  with  his  Christ- 
like devotion  and  firm  reliance  upon  God  for  help,  he 
was  made  eminently  successful.  Although  he  commenced 
preaching  with  an  unfinished  education,  yet  being  taught 
of  God,  and  endowed  with  power  from  on  high,  he 
seemed  to  have  no  lack.  Reviving  and  preaching  the  great 
doctrines  of  Regeneration  and  Justification  by  Faith,  he  so 
deeply  stirred  the  souls  and  probed  the  consciences  of  his 
hearers,  that  sinners  were  soon  converted  by  hundreds  and 
thousands. 

He  had  intended  to  prepare  a  hundred  sermons  before 
beginning,  but  being  pnslicd  into  the  pulpit,  he  commenced 
with  only  one;  and  that,  he  says,  "I  sent  to  a  neighboring 
clergyman  to  convince  him  how  unfit  I  w^as  to  take  upon  me 

(44) 


HIS    FIRST   SERMON,  45 

the  important  work  of  preaching.  He  kept  the  sermon  two 
weeks,  divided  it  into  two,  preached  it  morning  and  evening  to 
his  congregation,  and  then  returned  it  with  a  guinea  for  the  use 
of  it." 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  Gloucester,  June  23,  1736,  he 
says,  "  With  this  sermon  I  intend  to  begin,  God  willing,  next 
Sunday,  not  doubting,  but  that  He,  who  increased  a  little  lad's 
loaves  and  fishes  for  the  feeding  of  a  great  multitude,  will,  from 
time  to  time,  in  the  proper  use  of  the  appointed  means,  supply 
me  with  spiritual  food  for  whatever  congregation  He,  in  His  all- 
wise  providence,  shall  be  pleased  to  call  me  to.  Help,  help  me, 
my  dear  friend,  with  your  warmest  addresses  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  tliat  I  may  not  only  find  merc}^,  but  grace  to  help  me  in 
time  of  need.     At  present  this  is  the  language  of  my  heart, 

A  guilty,  locnk  and  helpless  worm,  into  Thyanns  I  fall. 

Be  Thou  v/y  strength,  my  righteousness^  ?ny  Jesus,  ajicl  viy  all. 

O  cease  not,  for  I  must  again  repeat  it,  cease  not  to  pray  for 
me.  Yours,  &c.,  G.  W." 

The  sermon  was  on  ''The  Necessity  atid  Benefits  of  Religions 
Society  I'  from  Eccl.  iv.  9-12,  "Two  are  better  than  one,"  etc.; 
and  for  originality,  systematic  arrangement,  strength  of  argu- 
ment, forcible  illustrations,  and  for  pungency,  pathos,  power 
and  effectiveness,  it  is  but  seldom,  if  ever  equaled  in  one's  first 
effort.  The  following  graphic  letter,  glowing  with  praise  and 
gratitude  to  God,  describes  the  circumstances  and  effects  of  its 
deliveiy.     It  was  written  to  his  friend,  Mr,  Hervey. 

Gloucester,  June  30,  1736. 
My  Dear  Friend  : — Glory  !  glory !  gloiy !  be  ascribed  to  an  Almighty 
Triune  God.  Last  Sunday,  in  the  afternoon,  I  preached  my  first  sermon  in  the 
church  of  St.  Mary  de  Crypt,  where  I  was  baptized  and  also  first  received  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Curiosity,  as  you  may  easily  guess,  drew  a  large 
congregation  together  upon  the  occasion.  The  sight,  at  first,  a  little  awed  me ; 
but  I  was  comforted  with  a  heartfelt  sense  of  the  divine  presence,  and  soon  found 


46  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

the  unspeakable  advantage  of  having  been  accustomed  to  public  speaking  when  a 
boy  at  school,  and  of  exhorting  and  teaching  the  prisoners  and  poor  people  at  their 
private  houses  while  at  the  University.  By  these  means  I  was  kept  from  being 
daunted  overmuch.  As  I  proceeded,  I  perceived  the  fire  kindled,  till  at  last, 
though  so  young,  and  amidst  a  crowd  of  those  who  knew  me  in  my  infant,  child- 
ish days,  I  trust  I  was  enabled  to  speak  with  some  degree  of  gospel  authority. 
Some  few  mocked,  but  most,  for  the  present,  seemed  struck ;  and  I  have  since 
heard  that  a  complaint  had  been  made  to  the  bishop,  that  I  drove  fifteen  mad  the 
first  aermom  The  worthy  prelate,  as  I  have  been  informed,  wished  that  the  madness 
might  not  be  forgotten  before  next  Sunday.  Before  then,  I  hope,  my  sermon  upon 
"He  that  is  in  Christ  is  a  new  creature"  will  be  completed.  Blessed  be  God,  I 
now  find  freedom  in  writing.     Glorious  Jesus, 

Unloose  my  stammering  tongue  to  tell 
Thy  love  immense,  unsearchable. 
Being  thus  engaged,  I  must  hasten  to  subscribe  myself,  my  dear  Sir, 

Yours,  etc.,  G.  W. 

Mr.  Whitefield  was  induced  to  choose  the  above  subject  for 
his  first  sermon,  in  order  to  defend  and  encourage  social  relig- 
ious mecti^igs  among  the  Oxford  Methodists,  and  in  the  httle 
flock  he  had  collected  at  Gloucester,  which  then  so  much 
needed  every  encouragement.  It  was  therefore  appropriate  to 
the  occasion. 

This  sermon  was  preached  June  27th,  and  is  found  in  the 
fifth  volume  of  "  Whitefield's  Works,"  but  not  being  an  exact 
copy  of  the  original  manuscript,  it  would  be  unfair  to  give  it  as 
a  sample  of  his  style. 

Mr.  Whitefield  had  been  urged  to  preach  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day  he  was  ordained,  but  having  been  restrained 
from  writing,  he  was  not  prepared.  Therefore,  he  says,  "  I 
read  prayers  to  the  poor  prisoners ;  being  willing  to  let  the 
first  act  of  my  ministerial  office  be  an  act  of  charity.  The  next 
morning,  waiting  upon  God  in  prayer,  to  know  what  He  would 
have  me  to  do,  these  words,  ^ Speak  out,  Paull  came  with  great 
power  to  my  soul.     Immediately  my  heart  was  enlarged;  and 


HIS    FIRST   SERMON.  4^ 

I  preached  on  the  following  Sunday  to  a  very  crowded  audi- 
ence, with  as  much  freedom  as  though  I  had  been  a  preacher 
for  some  years." 

Encouraged  with  his  first  pulpit  performances,  he  returned 
the  same  week  to  Oxford,  where  he  was  received  with  great 
joy  by  his  religious  friends ;  and  in  his  twenty-second  year, 
after  having  spent  three  years  and  nine  months  in  the  Univer- 
sity, he  took  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  resumed  his  visits 
to  the  prisoners,  and  took  the  oversight  of  two  or  three  char- 
ity Methodist  schools.  Satisfied  with  his^  position  now,  he 
thought  of  remaining  some  years  at  the  University,  to  com- 
plete his  education,  and  do  what  good  he  could  among  the 
gownsmen ;  but  Providence  ordered  otherwise,  and  he  was 
soon  invited  away  to  preach. 


CHAPTER    V, 


HIS    FIRST    LABORS    IN    LONDON    AND    ENGLAND. 

^  AVING  already  "  given  himself  a  martyr  for 
Jesus,"  and  having  now  received  power  to 
preach  the  gospel ;  with  a  vast  field,  "  white 
already  to  harvest,"  lying  before  him,  he  earn- 
estly longed  to  "thrust  in  the  sickle  and  reap." 
Although  he  would  have  been  contented  to 
remain  a  little  longer  in  "his  sweet  retirement" 
at  Oxford,  yet,  with  a  wider  sphere  of  useful- 
ness opening  before  him,  he  accepted,  with  fear  and  trembling, 
an  invitation  from  a  friend  to  officiate  as  curate  at  the  Tower 
Chapel,  in  London. 

Taking  the  coach,  he  reached  London  August  4,  1736,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  there  in  Bishopsgate  church  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath.  Although  the  congregation  was  disposed  to 
sneer  at  his  youthful  appearance  as  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  yet, 
astonished  and  impressed  with  his  eloquence  and  power,  they 
were  ready  to  admire,  praise  and  bless  him  as  he  came  down. 
Being  "  carried  away  "  with  his  sermon,  every  one  inquired  who 
he  was.  The  impression  was  fine,  and  it  established  his  charac- 
ter at  once.  He  was  so  much  admired  that  many  came  out  of 
their  shops  to  see  him  as  he  passed  along  the  street;  and  his 
hearing  one  of  them  say,  "  There  goes  a  boy  parson"  so  morti- 
fied his  pride,  that  it  led  him  to  pray,  "  Let  no  man  despise  thy 
youth."  From  this  time  on,  his  fame  and  popularity  continued 
to  increase  until  his  congregations  were  so  large  that  they  had 

to  place  constables  both  inside  and  outside  of  the  church   to 

(48) 


HIS    FIRST    LABORS    IN    LONDON    AND    ENGLAND.  49 

preserve  the  peace.  "  Here,"  he  says,  "  I  continued  for  the 
space  of  two  months,  reading  prayers  twice  a  week,  catechising 
and  preaching  once,  visifing  the  soldiers  in  the  infirmary  and 
barracks  daily.  I  also  read  prayers  every  evening  at  Wapping 
chapel,  and  preached  at  Ludgate  prison  every  Tuesday."  The 
chapel  was  crowded  every  Sabbath,  and  many  young  people 
came  in  the  morning  to  hear  him  discourse  about  the  new  birth, 
and  to  inquire  what  to  do  to  be  saved. 

About  this  time,  while  he  was  still  in  London,  the  glowing 
accounts  he  received  of  the  missionary  work  in  Georgia, 
America,  from  the  Wesleys  and  Mr.  Ingham,  made  him  long 
to  go  over  and  help  them ;  but  his  friends  opposing  his  going, 
and  not  being  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind,  he  deferred  the 
laudable  undertaking. 

Having  thus  made  his  debut  in  London,  he  returned  to 
Oxford,  and  resumed  labors  in  his  former  charge  with  more 
encouraging  prospects.  Here  he  spent  considerable  time  in 
studying  Henry's  Commentary,  which  was  a  great  favorite  with 
him  and  his  associates  in  the  University.  "God,"  he  says, 
"  works  greatly  by  Henry  here."  A  friend  gave  him  seven 
pounds  to  buy  it,  for  which  he  was  very  thankful. 

In  the  following  November,  at  the  request  of  an  old  friend, 
he  accepted  another  invitation  to  officiate  as  curate,  for  a  short 
time,  at  Dummer  in  Hampshire.  Here,  with  a  different  class 
of  people,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  the  tone  of  society  less  conge- 
nial, and  he  began  to  get  lonely.  In  the  language  of  Dr. 
Gillies,  "  Whitefield  found  himself  among  a  poor  and  illiterate 
people,"  and  "  his  proud  heart,"  he  says,  "  could  not,  at  first 
brook  the  change ;  and  he  would  have  given  the  world  for  one 
of  his  Oxford  friends,"  and  "mourned  for  the  want  of  them  like 
a  dove."  But  he  says,  "I  soon  began  to  be  as  much  delighted 
with  the  artless  conversation  of  the  poor,  illiterate  people,  as  I 


50  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

had  been  formerly  with  the  company  of  my  Oxford  friends ; 
and  frequently  learned  as  much  by  an  afternoon's  visit,  as  by  a 
week's  study."  To  accomplish  more  while  here,  he  rigidly 
adhered  to  his  system  of  economizing  time ;  and  divided  "  the 
day  into  three  equal  parts  ;  eight  hours  for  sleep  and  meals, 
eight  for  public  prayers,  catechising  and  visiting,  and  eight  for 
study  and  devotional  retirement." 

While  thus  laboring  in  obscurity  in  Dummer,  he  received  a 
call  to  a  lucrative  and  attractive  curacy  in  London ;  but  with 
the  chord  touched  by  the  spiritual  wants  of  Georgia  still  vibrat- 
ing in  his  soul,  he  promptly  declined  it.  And  now,  with  a 
strong  desire  to  go  to  America,  Oxford,  Hampshire,  and  Lon- 
don had  no  longer  but  little  attraction  for  the  young  evangelist. 
Having  before  besought  the  Lord  to  direct  his  steps,  touching 
his  going  to  Georgia,  He  now  opens  the  way  for  him  to  go. 
"About  this  time,"  says  Dr.  Stevens,  "  he  received  several 
letters  'from  the  Wesleys,  calling  him  thither."  Besides,  Charles  - 
Wesley  had  now  returned  from  Georgia,  and  reached  London 
in  search  of  more  laborers  for  that  promising  mission.  "  In  a 
few  days,"  says  Whitefield,  "another  letter  came  from  Mr.  John 
Wesley,  who,  after  giving  a  graphic  description  of  that  encour- 
ing  field,  said,  'Only  Mr.  Delamotte  is  with  me,  till  God  shall 
stir  up  the  hearts  of  some  of  his  servants,  who,  putting  their 
lives  in  His  hands,  shall  come  over  and  help  us  where  the  har- 
verst  is  so  great,  and  the  laborers  so  few.  What  if  thou  art  the 
man,  Mr.  Whitefield  ?  Do  you  ask  me  what  you  shall  have  ? 
Food  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on ;  a  house  to  lay  your  head 
in,  such  as  your  Lord  had  not;  and  a  crown  of  gloiy  that 
fadeth  not  away.'  Upon  reading  this,"  says  Whitefield,  "my 
HEART  LEAPED  WITHIN  ME,  and  as  it  wcre,  echoed  to  the  call." 

The  die  is  cast:  "  I  will  go — T/ie  Lord  help  me','  doubtless  ut- 
tered his  expanding  heart ;  and  he  solemnly  sealed  the  resolution 
with  a  word  of  prayer,  beseeching  God  for  help  and  direction. 


HIS    FIRST    LABORS    IN    LONDON    AND    ENGLAND.  5 1 

Many  things  conspired  to  make  his  weiy  clear  in  this  noble 
enterprise.  Mr.  Kinchin,  Dean  elect  of  Corpus  Christi  Col- 
lege, agreed  to  take  his  work  at  Oxford,  and  Mr.  Hervey,  of  the 
Oxford  Club,  would  fill  his  place  in  Hampshire;  and  "Mr. 
Wesley,"  he  says,  "  was  my  dear  friend ;  Georgia  was  an  infant 
colony ;  the  government  seemed  to  have  its  welfare  at  heart, 

and  I  heard  many  Indians  were  near  it A  voyage  to  sea 

would,  in  all  probability,  not  do  my  constitution  much  hurt. 
These  things  being  thoroughly  weighed  and  prayed  over,  I  re- 
solved to  embark  for  Georgia :  and  knowing  I  should  never 
put  my  resolutions  into  practice  if  I  conferred  with  flesh  and 
blood,  I  wrote  to  my  relatives  to  inform  them  of  my  design." 
He  told  his  friends  in  Gloucester,  that  unless  they  would  pro- 
mise not  to  diss-uade  him  from  going,  he  would  embark  without 
seeing  them.  They  made  the  promise,  but  when  he  went  to 
bid  them  good-bye  they  broke  it,  and  did  what  they  could  to 
keep  him  at  home. 

The  following  stirring  words  composed  and  sent  him  about 
this  time,  by  his  highly  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Charles  Wesley, 
encouraged  him. 

"  .Servant  of  God,  the  summons  hear; 
Thy  Master  calls — arise,  obey  ! 
The  tokens  of  His  will  appear ; 

His  providence  points  out  the  way. 

"  Fight  the  good  fight,  and  stand  secure, 
In  faith's  impenetrable  shield ; 
Hell's  Prince  shall  tremble  at  its  power;  ._ 
With  all  his  fiery  darls  repelled. 

"Champion  of  God,  the  Lord  proclaim, 
Jesus  alone  resolve  to  know ; 
Tread  down  thy  foes  in  Jesq's  name; 
Go — conquering  and  to  conquer,  go. 

"  Through  racks  and  fires  pursue  thy  way ; 
Be  mindful  of  a  dying  God ; 
'  Finish  thy  course,  and  win  the  day; 

Look  up,  and  seal  ihe  truth  with  blood !" 


CHAPTER    VI 


HIS    WEEPING    FAREWELLS    TO    ENGLAND. 

AVING  set  his  face  for  America,  the  young 
Ijoanerges  now  makes  ready  and  bids  farewell 
Ui  Kni^land.  And  being  so  warmly  attached  to 
11  is  friends  and  congregations,  and  they  to  him, 
tiic  very  tlioiigJit  of  his  leaving  them  filled 
their  eyes  with  tears.  Yet  buoyant  with  hope 
and  flaming  with  zeal,  he  now  begins  his  sor- 
rowful work  ;  and  like  the  church  at  Ephesus 
for  I'aul,  "  many  wept  sore,  and  were  ready  to  fall  on  his  neck 
and  kiss  him."  Much  was  done  to  prevent  his  going, 
"  Many,"  he  says,  "  made  me  large  offers  if  I  would  not  go." 
His  aged  mother  wept  sorely.  The  offer  of  a  fine  lucrative 
curacy  in  London,  besides  the  tender  of  "  a  pretty  preferment," 
if  he  would  remain  and  preach  at  home ;  but,  says  he,  "  with  a 
full  conviction  that  it  was  the  Divine  will  I  should  go,"  none  of 
these  things  moved  him  from  his  purpose.  Having  returned 
from  Dummer  to  Oxford  to  bid  his  friends  farewell  there,  on 
January  I,  1737,  he  went  to  Gloucester  to  consult  Bishop  Ben- 
son about  going  to  Georgia.  He  at  once  sanctioned  it,  and 
received  him  like  a  father,  and  gave  him  much  encouragement. 
While  there  he  preached  a  few  times  to  very  large  and  deeply 
impressed  congregations.  From  Gloucester  he  went  to  bid 
farewell  to  Bristol.  Here  he  was  so  highly  esteemed,  tlic 
mayor  of  the  city  honored  him  with  an  invitation  to  prdach 

before    the    corporation ;    and  the  interest  was  so    great,  that 

(52) 


HIS    WEEPING    FAREWELLS   TO    ENGLAND.  53 

Quakers,  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  and  all  denominations  flocked 
to  hear  him.  The  congregations  were  immense,  and  the  effect 
was  very  deep  and  powerful. 

The  prospect  of  doing  good  here  was  now  so  encouraging 
that  Mr.  Whitefield  could  not  leave  it,  and  in  apologizing  to  his 
friend,  he  exclaims,  "  What  shall  I  say  ?  I  cannot  be  with  you 
next  week.  Mdthinks  it  would  be  almost  sinful  to  leave  Bristol 
at  this  cj-^tical  juncture.  TJie  whole  city  secins  to  be  alarmed. 
Churches  are  as  full  on  week  days  as  they  used  to  be  on  Sun- 
day; and  on  Sundays  so  full  that  many,  very  many,  are  obliged 
to  go  away  because  they  cannot  get  in."  And  feeling  his  dan- 
ger from  pride  and  ambition,  he  bursts  forth  into  earnest  prayer, 
and  cries,  "O  pray,  dear  Mr.  H.,  that  God  would  always  keep  me 
humble  and  fully  convinced  that  I  am  nothing  without  Him." 
"The  Word  was  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword;  and  the 
new  birth  made  its  way  like  lightning  into  the  hearers'  con- 
sciences. Sanctify  it,  holy  Father,  to  Thine  own  glory  and 
Thy  people's  good." 

*'  Similar  impressions,"  says  Dr.  Philip,  "  were  made  in  Bath 
and  Gloucester,  with  unprecedented  collections  for  charitable 
purposes."  But  his  stay  in  any  of  these  places  was  short,  being 
obliged  to  return  to  Oxford  by  the  first  of  February. 

In  March  following,  he  went  to  London  to  appear  before 
General  Oglethorpe  and  the  trustees  of  Georgia;  and  having 
been  accepted  by  them,  he  was  at  once  introduced  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the  Bishop  of  London,  who 
both "  heartily  approved  of  his  mission,  and  wished  him  great 
success. 

And  now,  with  all  things  ready  for  embarking,  and  longing 
to  set  sail,  he  seemed  to  become  more  enthusiastic,  and  to 
enjoy  more  intimate  communion  with  the  blessed  Saviour. 
But  as  General   Oglethorpe    and  the  vessel  in  which  he  was 


54  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

to  sail  did  not  get  ready  as  soon  as  was  expected,  his  departure 
was  delayed  some  months  ;  which  gave  him  further  opportu- 
nities of  laboring  more  at  home. 

After  preaching  a  few  weeks  in  London  to  crowded  con- 
gregations, to  accommodate  his  friend,^  Rev.  S.  Harris,  he 
went  and  supplied  his  church  for  a  while  at  StoneJiotisc,  in  his 
native  county.  Here  the  people  received  him  gladly,  and  here 
his  religious  enjoyment  was  most  sweet  and  precious.  And 
says  he,  "  Could  the  trees  of  the  v/ood  speak,  they  could  tell 
what  sweet  communion  with  God,  I  and  the  brethren  have 
enjoyed  under  them.  Sometimes  as  I  have  been  walking 
out,  my  soul  would  make  such  sallies,  that  I  thought  it  would 
go  out  of  my  body.  At  other  times,  I  would  be  so  over- 
powered with  a  sense  of  God's  infinite  majesty,  that  I  would  be 
constrained  to  throw  myself  prostrate  on  the  ground,  and  offer 
my  soul  as  a  blank  in  His  hands,  to  write  on  it  what  He  pleased. 
One  night  was  a  time  never  to  be  forgotten.  It  happened  to 
lighten  exceedingly.  I  had  been  expounding  to  many  people, 
and  some  being  afraid  to  go  home,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to 
accompany  them,  and  improve  the  occasion  to  stir  them  up  to 
prepare  for  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man.  In  my  return  to 
the  parsonage,  while  others  were  rising  from  their  beds,  and 
frightened  almost  to  death  to  see  the  lightning  run  upon  the 
ground,  I  and  another,  a  poor  pious  countryman,  were  in  the 
field,  praising,  praying  to  and  exulting  in  our  God,  and  longing 
for  that  time  when  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from  heaven  'in 
flaming  fire.'  Oh  that  my  soul  may  be  in  a  like  frame  when 
He  shall  a(!tually  come  to  call  me."  In  speaking  of  the  grand- 
eur of  this  scene  in  one  of  his  letters,  he  says,  "  Honest  James 
and  I  were  out  in  the  midst  of  the  lightning,  and  never  were 
more  delighted  in  our  lives."  Filled  with  the  fear  and  love  of 
God,  Whitefield  had  no  fear  of  thunder  and  lightning.     Here, 


HIS    WEEPING    FAREWELLS    TO    ENGLAND.  55 

amidst  these  scenes  of  religious  enjoyment,  he  finished  his 
noted  sermon  on  Early  Piety,  oo  Eccl.  xii.  i.  When  he  left 
many  cried  out,  "  Whither  thou  goest  I  will  go,  and  whither 
thou  lodgest  I  will  lodge." 

From  these  "  sweet  communions,"  at  Stonehouse,  he  re- 
turned again  to  Bristol  in  May,  and  was  received  "with  the 
utmost  civility  and  kindness."  Such  was  the  respect  for  him, 
that  multitudes,  both  on  foot  and  in  carriages,  went  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  to  meet  and  to  welcome  him  to  their  homes  and 
hearts ;  and  many  more  blessed  and  saluted  him  as  he  passed 
along  the  streets.  Here  he  remained  from  May  23d  to  June 
2 1st,  and  preached  about  five  times  a  week  to  vast  congrega- 
tions with  wonderful  effect.  The  whole  city  seemed  to  be 
electrified  by  his  stirring  sermons.  All  ranks  and  denomina- 
tions rushed  to  hear  him,  and  the  crowd  was  always  so  great, 
that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he  made  his  way  to  the 
pulpit.  "  Some  hung  upon  the  rails  of  the  organ  loft,  • 
others  climbed  upon  the  leads  of  the  church,  and  altogether 
made  the  church  so  hot  with  their  breath,  that  the  steam  would 
fall  from  the  pillars  like  drops  of  rain."  And  when  he  preached 
his  farewell  sermon  here,  and  told  the  people  that  perhaps  they 
might "  see  his  face  no  more,"  all,  high  and  low,  old  and  young, 
burst  into  tears.  Multitudes  followed  him  home,  in  tears,  with 
earnest  entreaties  that  he  remain  in  England.  But  firm  in  his 
purpose,  he  spent  only  the  next  day  from  seven  in  the  morning 
until  midnight,  in  conversing  with  the  awakened,  and  then 
secretly  stole  away  to  avoid  the  display  of  a  public  escort. 
During  his  stay  in  Bristol,  he  revisited  Bath  and  preached  with 
the  same  power  and  similar  effect  as  at  Bristol.  On  one  occa- 
sion, when  preaching  in  the  Abbey  Church,  over  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds  sterling  were  raised  for  the  poor  in  Georgia. 
About   this    time    he    published   his   powerful   sermoii  on   the 


56  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Nature  and  Necessity  of  Regeneration,  from  2  Cor.  v.  7,  which 
"  under  God,"  he  says,  "  began  the  awakening  at  Gloucester, 
Bristol,  and  London." 

After  again  visiting  Gloucester  and  Oxford,  he  returned  to 
London  late  in  August,  where  he  proposed  to  remain  until  he 
sailed  for  Georgia.  Here  he  enjoyed  "a  sweet  retirement,"  for  a 
while,  and  kept  up  his  usual  practice  of  reading  and  praying  over 
the  Word  of  God  upon  his  knees.  But  receiving  many  invita- 
tions to  go  out  and  preach  to  the  London  religious  societies, 
his  sweet  retirement  was  soon  broken  up.  He  now  soon  be- 
came so  overburdened  and  worn  down  with  labor,  that  the 
people,  fearing  he  would  injure  his  health,  besought  him  to 
spare  himself.  But  unmindful  of  self,  and  being  wholly  devoted 
to  God,  he  always  replied,  "  /  had  rather  wear  out  than  rust  out. 
No  nestling,  no  nestling,  this  side  eternitj." 

ALL    LONDON    IS    ALARMED. 

Boldly  thrusting  in  the  sickle,  he  now  commenced  a  course 
of  intense,  incessant  labor  that  characterized  his  ministerial  life. 
Beginning  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  either  in  Cripplegate, 
St.  Annis,  or  Foster  Lane  churches,  on  Sundays,  he  usually 
preached  four  times  a  day ;  besides  reading  prayer  twice  or 
thrice,  and  walking  ten  or  twelve  miles  to  reach  the  churches. 

He  now  attracted  so  much  attention  that  his  name  was 
put  in  the  London  papers,  "  as  a  young  gentleman  going  vol- 
unteer to  Georgia,  was  to  preach  before  the  societies  at  their 
general  quarterly  meeting."  This  greatly  increased  the  interest 
and  curiosity  of  the  people,  and  so  vexed  Mr.  Whitefield,  that 
he  requested  the  editor  not  to  repeat  it.  But  he  replied,  "I  am 
paid  for  doing  it,  and  I  will  not  lose  two  shillings  for  anybody." 
On  that  occasion  he  preached  his  great  sermon  on  Early  Piety, 
from  •Eccl.  xii.  I,  and  they   did   him   the  honor  to  publish  it. 


HIS    WEEPING    FAKEVVELLS    TO    ENGLAND.  57 

Abounding  in  these  ''mighty  deeds"  as  the  London  editor 
called  them,  his  popularity  increased  more  and  more,  and  there 
was  no  end  to  the  people  flocking  to  hear  him.  The  Charity 
Schools  were  continually  inviting  him  to  preach  for  the  benefit 
of  the  poor  children.  For  this  purpose  they  procured  the 
churches,  and  held  their  meetings  on  week  days,  and  yet 
thousands  had  to  go  away  from  the  largest  churches  for  the 
want  of  room.  The  crowd  was  so  great  that  constables  had  to 
be  placed  at  the  door  to  keep  order.  "  I  now,"  says  he, 
"  preached  generally  nine  times  a  week.  The  people  were  all 
attention,  as  hearing  for  eternity.  The  early  sacraments  were 
exceedingly  awful.  O,  how  often  at  Cripplegate,  St.  Annis  and 
Foster  Lane,  have  we  seen  Jesus  Christ  crucified  and  evidently 
set  before  us !  On  Sunday  mornings,  long  before  day,  you 
might  see  the  streets  filled  with  people  going  to  church  with 
their  lanterns  in  their  hands,  and  hear  them  conversing  about 
the  things  of  God." 

Deeply  feeling  his  dependence  on  God  in  these  almost 
superhuman  labors,  we  find  him  continually  praying  to  God  for 
help,  and  begging  his  friends  to  pray  for  him  that  he 
might  be  strengthened  and  humbled ;  and'  going  on  in  the 
glorious  work,  "  nil  disperandum,"  he  said  when  urged  to  take 
care  of  himself,  "  I  find  by  experience  that  the  more  I  do,  the 
more  I  may  do  for  God."  In  one  of  his  London  letters  he 
says,  "  God  still  works  here.  The  collections  for  the  charity 
schools  are  very  large.  'All  Londo?i  is  alarmed!  Many  youths 
here  sincerely  love  the  Saviour;  and  thousands,  I  hope,  are 
quickened,  strengthened,  and  confirmed  by  the  word  preached. 
God  still  works  more  and  more  by  my  unworthy  ministry. 
Last  week  save  one,  I  preached  ten  times  in  different  churches, 
and  the  last  week  seven ;  and  yesterday  four  times,  and  read 
prayers  twice,  though   I  slept  not  above  an  hour  the   night 


58    '  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

before,  which  was  spent  in  rcHgious  conversation  and  prayer." 
"On  Wednesday  night,"  December  23,  1737,  he  says,  "eighteen 
of  us  continued  all  night  in  praises  and  praying  for  our  friends/' 
He  usually  preached  four  or  five  charity  sermons  a  week,  and 
the  weekly  collections  for  the  poor  children  amounted  to  about 
seventy  pounds.     The  third  edition  of  his  sermon  on  Regenera- 
tion was  published  about  this  time.     In  summing  up  the  fruits 
of  his  less  than  three  months'  labor  in  London,  he  says,  "  Great 
things  have  been  done  for  us  here.     Perhaps  upwards  of  a 
thousand  pounds  have  been  raised  for  the  poor  and  the  charity 
schools,  and  I  have  preached  above  a  hundred  times  since  I 
have  been  here.     A  visible  alteration  is  made  also  in  hundreds. 
Last  Sunday,  at  six  in  the  morning,  when  I  gave  my  farewell, 
the  whole  chirch  was  drowned  in  tears ;  they  wept  and   cried 
aloud,  as  a  mother  weepeth  for  her  first-born.     Since  that,  there 
is  no  end  of  persons  coming  and  weeping,  telling  me  what 
God  had  done  for  their  souls :    others  again  beg  little  books, 
and  desire  me  to  write  their  names  in  them.     Time  would  fail 
me  were  I  to  tell  you  how  many  have  been  awakened,  and  how 
many  pray  for  me.     The  great  day  will  discover  all.  -  In  the 
meanwhile,  I  beseech  you,  Mrs.  H,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  to 
pray,  that  the  goodness  of  God  may  humble  me.     As  yet,  the 
divine  strength  has  been   magnified   in  my  weakness.     Many 
have  opposed,  but  in  vain.     God's  power  conquers  all.     I  am 
now  going  as  Abraham  did,  not  knowing  whither ;  but  I  com- 
mit myself  to   the   guidance  of  God's  good  providence   and 
Spirit.     He  that  has  and  doth,  will   deliver  me  out  of  all  my 
troubles.     My  farewell  sermon  will  be  published  shortly,  with 
two  or  three  more."* 

But  in  the  progress  of  this  glorious  work,  there  arose  an 

*  Extract  from  his  last  letter  before  he  embarked  for  Georgia,  dated  London, 
December  23,  1737. 


HIS    WEEPING    FAREWELLS    TO    ENGLAND.  59 

opposition.  For,  says  Whitefield,  "as  my  popularity  and  use- 
fulness increased,  opposition  increased  proportionably.  At  first 
many  of  the  clergy  were  my  hearers  and  admirers ;  but  some 
soon  grew  angry,  and  complaints  were  made  that  there  was  no 
room  for  the  parishioners,  and  that  the  pews  were  spoiled. 
Some  called  me  '  2^  spiritual  pickpocket',  and  others  thought  I 
made  use  of  a  chann  to  get  the  people's  money,"  It  was  now 
reported,  upon  the  complaint  of  some  of  the  clergy,  that  the 
Bishop  of  London  intended  to  silence  Whitefield;  but  upon 
inquiry,  Whitefield  found  the  report  false.  The  Bishop  ap- 
proved of  his  doctrines.* 

And  just  here  let  us  pause  a  moment  and  inquire  more  par- 
ticularly, by  what  instrumentalities  these  glorious  results  were 
broght  about.  How  was  the  scoffer  silenced,  the  careless 
aroused,  and  the  most  abandoned  moved  to  call  upon  God  ? 
By  what  means  "  was  all  London  alarmed,"  and  "  vast  congre- 
gations drenched  with  tears?"  W/iat  caused  this  mighty  shak- 
ing among  the  dry  bones  of  England  ?  Under  God,  it  was 
done  simply  by  earnest  praying  and  earnest  preaching.  Glow- 
ing with  zeal  and  grappling  for  souls,  Whitefield  boldly  preached 
Jesus,  Regeneration,  and  Justification  by  Faith;  and  sinners 
flocked  to  the  Cross,  like  "  doves  to  their  windows."  During 
these  times  of  refreshing,  he  preached  three  noted  sermons 
that  have  been  identified,  which,  as  they  have  been  printed  and 
published   from  his  own   manuscripts,  may  be  relied   upon  as 

*In  the  midst  of  his  trials  and  opposition,  Mr.  Whitefield  derived  much 
Strength  and  comfort  in  meeting  every  evening  with  a  little  circle  of  his  relig- 
ious associates  for  prayer  for  their  acquaintances,  and  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 
"  Once,"  says  he,  "  vv^e  spent  a  whole  night  in  prayer  and  praise ;  and  many  a 
time  at  midnight  and  at  one  in  the  morning,  after  I  have  been  wearied  almost  to 
death  in  preaching,  writing,  and  conversation,  and  going  from  place  to  place,  God 
has  imparted  new  life  to  my  soul  on  these  occasions."  This  fact  induced  him 
to  compose  his  sermon  on  Intercession,  from  the  important  text,  "Pray  for  Us.'' 


60  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

specimens  of  the  style  and  matter  of  the  sermons  that  produced 
those  wonderful  effects :  one  on  Early  Piety,  one  on  Regenera- 
tion, and  the  other  on  Intercession. 

Abundantly  blessed  of  God  in  his  farewell  labors,  Whitefield 
says,  "  The  nearer  the  time  of  my  embarkation  approached,  the 
more  affectionate  and  eager  the  people  grew.  All  ranks  gave 
vent  to  their  passion.  Thousands  and  thousands  of  prayers 
were  put  up  for  me.  The  people  would  stop  me  in  the  alleys 
of  the  churches,  hug  me  in  their  arms,  and  follow  me  with 
wishful  looks.  Such  a  sacrament  I  never  saw  before  as  at  St. 
Dunstan's.  The  tears  of  the  communicants  mingled  with  the 
cup:  and  had  not  Jesus  given  us  some  of  His  'new  wine,'  our 
parting  would  have  been  insupportable." 

Before  closing  this  chapter  we  give  the  following  extract  as 
a  specimen  of  his  farewell  sermons.  In  urging  the  sinner  to 
fly  to  Christ,  with  great  earnestness  he  said,  "I  beseech  you,  in 
love  and  compassion,  to  come  to  Jesus.  Indeed,  all  I  say  is  in 
love  to  your  souls.  And  if  I  could  be  but  an  instrument  of 
bringing  you  to  Jesus,  I  should  not  envy,  but  rejoice  in  your  hap- 
piness, however  much  you  were  exalted.  If  I  were  to  make  up 
the  last  of  the  train  of  the  companions  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  it 
would  rejoice  me  to  see  you  above  me  in  glory.  Come  then 
to  Christ,  every  one  that  hears  me  this  night.  Come,  come, 
my  guilty  brethren.  I  beseech  you,  for  your  immortal  souls' 
sake,  for  Christ's  sake,  come  to  Christ.  Methinks  I  could 
speak  till  midnight  unto  you  ;  I  am  full  of  love  toward  you. 
Would  you  have  me  go  and  tell  my  Master  that  you  will  not 
come,  and  that  I  have  spent  my  strength  in  vain?  I  cannot 
bear  to  carry  such  a  message  to  Him.  I  would  not,  indeed  I 
would  not  be  a  swift  witness  against  you  at  the  great  day  of 
account;  but  if  you  will  refuse  these  gracious  invitations,  1 
must  do  it." 


CHAPTER    VII 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE    TO    AMERICA, 

*ROWNED  with  a  glorious  success  in  his  first 
efforts   in   preaching  the   gospel  in   England, 
and  longing  to  preach  it  in  America,  he  em- 
barked for  Georgia  December  28,  1737.     Two 
days  later  he  got  aboard  of  the  "  VVJiitaker"  and 
found  her  "  full  of  soldiers,"  with  near  twenty- 
women,    besides  a    large    number    of    sailors. 
"And  God,"  he  says,  "  was  pleased  to  give  me 
a  proof  that  He  was  with  me  in  the  ship."     Upon  surveying  his 
"  new  charge','  as  he  called  it,  he  found  it  very  different  from 
his  weeping  congregation  at  St.  Dunstan — there  all  was  love, 
friendship,  and  praise ;  here,  there  was  little  but  cards,  cursing 
and  swearing.     The  captain  of  the  ship,  the  surgeon  and  the 
officers  of  the  regiment,  gave  him  a  cold  reception,  and  treated 
him,  for  a  while,  as  an  impostor;  and  to  show  their  disrespect 
for    him,  they    played    hautboy,  and   turned    the    ship    into    a 
gambling  house,  the  whole  of  the  first  Sabbath  after  he  came 
aboard.     This  was  a  very  disagreeable  situation,  yet  with  his 
characteristic  sagacity,  he  grasped  and  mastered  it.     Perceiving 
this  gathering  storm  of  opposition,  he  wisely  fled  from  it,  and 
repaired  to  an  adjacent  hill  with  his  friends  for  prayer;  where, 
to  his  surprise,  he  met  a  few  of  his  dear  London  friends,  who 
had  traveled  all  night  to  see  him.      After  the  usual  salutation, 
about  ten  they  went  to  church  at  Gravesend,  whdre  he  preached 

three  times  that  day    (once  without  notes),  and  received  the 

(61) 


62  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

sacrament  from  the  curate.  But  with  his  patient  forbearance 
and  unyielding  perseverance,  this  opposition  soon  gave  way. 
He  overcame  evil  with  good.  When  the  crew  saw  his  strong 
desire  and  earnest  efforts  to  do  them  good,  they  began  to  re- 
spect him.  And  being  conscious  of  his  heavy  responsibility, 
and  of  his  great  need  of  divine  aid,  he  was  almost  continually 
begging  God  for  help. 

Returning  to  the  ship  on  Monday  morning,  January  2,  he 
resumed  his  "  labor  of  love  "  in  visiting  and  praying  with  the 
sick  soldiers,  and  mildly  reproving  the  swearing  officers.* 
And  when  he  could  not  reach  them  by  kind  words,  like  Jesus, 
with  fallen  Peter,  he  gave  them  gentle  looks  of  reproof  At 
first  he  saw  but  little  proof  of  his  labors,  but  yet,  encouraged 
by  the  close  attention  of  his  red-coat  parishioners,  and  their 
willingness  to  receive  instruction,  he  went  on  in  his  important 
work. 

Thus  things  went  on  for  some  time,  with  Mr.  Whitefield 
suffering  for  the  want  of  a  place  of  retirement  for  prayer  and 
study.  But  upon  his  making  known  his  wants  to  Captain 
Whiting,  he  freely  gave  him  the  use  of  his  cabin.  This,  he 
says,  was  given  in  answer  to  prayer.  Growing  in  favor  with 
the  officers,  soon  after,  he  gladly  accepted  an  invitation  to  a 
cup  of  coffee  with  the  military  captain,  (whom  he  considered 
the  most  desperate  of  any  of  the  officers,)  with  whom  he  took 
the  liberty  to  say,  "That  though  he  was  a  volunteer  on  board, 
yet  as  he  was  on  board,  he  looked  upon  himself  as  his  chaplain, 
and  as  such,  he  thought  it  a  little  odd  to  pray  and  preach  to  the 
servants,  and  not  to  the  master;"  and  said,  "That  if  he  thought 

*  "  I  could  do  no  more  for  a  season,  than  while  I  was  writing,  now  and  then 
turn  my  head  by  way  of  reproof  to  a  lieutenant  of  the  soldiers,  who  swore  as 
though  he  was  born^of  a  swearing  constitution.  Now  and  then  he  would  take  the 
hint,  return  my  nod  with  a  '  Doctor,  I  ask  your  pardon,'  and  then  to  his  swearing 
and  cards  again." — Whitefield'' s  MS. 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE   TO    AMERICA.  63 

proper  he  would  make  use  of  a  short  collect  now  and  then  to 
him,  and  the  other  gentlemen,  in  the  great  cabin."  After  paus- 
ing a  while,  and  shaking  his  head,  he  answered,  "  I  think  we 
may,  when  we  have  nothing  else  to  do."  Encouraged  by  this 
cool  reply,  he  labored  on,  and  finding  that  there  were  over  a 
hundred  persons  aboard,  besides  the  crew,  he  organized, 
January  5,  a  Soldier's  Bible  Class,  consisting  of  six  or  seven 
soldiers,  to  which  were  added  three  or  four  more  the  next  day, 
whom  he  catechised  regularly  on  open  deck,  with  much  en- 
couragement. The  weather  was  now  very  cold,  and  as  anotlier 
mark  of  respect,  Captain  Whiting  sent  his  boat  to  bring  Mr. 
Whitefield  to  Gravesend.  In  breakfasting  with  some  gentle- 
men in  the  great  cabin,  he  says,  "they  were  very  civil,  and  let 
me  put  in  a  word  for  God."  On  Sabbath,  January  8,  1738, 
being  very  cold,  he  rose  early,  and,  like  a  careful  nurse, 
hastened  round  to  see  the  sea-sick  soldiers  and  their  families, 
to  administer  to  their  wants.  Upon  giving"  them  sage-tea, 
sugar,  etc.,  he  tried  to  excite  their  gratitude  to  God,  for  the 
mercies  of  the  stormy  night.  Although  his  thoughts  now 
lingered  much  with  his  London  friends,  yet  to-day  he  read 
public  prayers,  preached  twice  to  the  soldiers,  and,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  officers,  he  read  prayers  once  in  the  great  cabin. 
This  was  the  first  Sabbath  he  spent  on  the  ship.  And  here  we 
see  what  a  marked  change  he  wrought  in  the  crew  in  a  few 
days.  A  week  ago  they  scorned  and  treated  him  as  an  im- 
postor; to-day  they  treat  him  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
were  glad  to  hear  him  preach. 

Owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  Whitaker  was  detained  in  the 
Downs  nearly  a  month,  and  reached  Margate  on  the  ninth,  in 
the  midst  of  a  severe  storm.  "  This  afternoon,"  Whitefield 
said,  "  I  began  to  feel  the  power  of  faith  more  than  ever  I  did 
before,  and  to  find  that  as    our  day,  so  will  our  strength  be. 


64  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

When  I  went  into  the  boat,  the  sea  ran  dangerously  high ;   but 

I  could  boldly  say, 

"  '  God  is  our  refuge  in  distress, 

A  present  help  when  dangers  press.'  " 

Januaiy  ii.  To-day  they  weighed  anchor,  and  sailed  to 
Deal,  where  they  remained  several  days.  And  besides  his 
regular  routine  of  duties  in  visiting  the  sick,  catechising  a  large 
class  of  women,  and  writing  hosts  of  letters,  he  now  read 
prayers  and  preached  twice  every  day.  And  so  great  was  the 
interest,  says  he,  that  "  the  very  soldiers  stood  out  to  say  their 
catechism  like  little  children." 

January  13.  "Set  apart  this  day  as  a  day  of  humiliation, 
abstinence,  and  intercession  for  friends  and  for  all  mankind,  and 
found  my  heart  greatly  enlarged  in  that  divine  exercise.  Inter- 
cession is  a  glorious  means  to  sweeten  the  heart !  Remained 
ashore  all  day,  went  to  church  at  Deal,  and  wrote  letters  till  one 
in  the  morning ;  gave  books  to  the  poor,  and,"  says  he,  "  I  have 
not  spent  so  many  hours  in  sweet  retirement  in  a  day,  since 
I  left  the  University.     The  pleasure  I  felt  was  inexpressible." 

Having  no  better  place,  he,  his  brother,  and  Mr.  Haber- 
sham, and  two  servants,  generally  retired  ^every  night  behind 
the  round-house  for  prayer,  praise,  and  other  religious  exercises. 
Sometimes  Captain  Whiting  was  found  listening  within.  Mr. 
Whitefield  being  so  anxious  for  his  salvation,  he  ventured  one 
day  to  take  "  TJic  Independent  Whig  "  from  his  pillow  and  put 
in  its  place  a  little  book  called  "  T/ie  Self-Deceiverr  The  next 
morning  the  captain  came  in  smiling,  and  asked  who  made  the 
change  ?  Whitefield  told  him  and  begged  him  to  accept  of  the 
book,  which  he  said  he  had  read  with  pleasure.  It  produced  a 
visible  effect  on  him.  The  militaiy  captain,  becoming  more 
interested,  now  requested  to  have  public  service,  and  expound- 
ing twice  a  day  in  the  great  cabin. 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE   TO    AMERICA.  65 

January  i8.  "Began  to  live  by  rule  more  than  ever, 
for  nothing,  I  find,  is  to  be  done  without  it."  Being  "  a  little 
inclined  to  heaviness,  I  drove  it  off  by  a  long  intercession. 
Prayer  is  an  antidote  against  every  evil."  "About  eleven 
at  night,  went  and  sat  down  among  the  sailors  in  the  steerage, 
and  reasoned  with  them  about  righteousness,  temperance,  and 
a  judgment  to  come,  at  which  some  of  them  almost  trem- 
bled." 

January  20.  "  Rose  with  great  peace  of  mind,  and  spent  all 
the  morning  in  composing  a  sermon,"  which  he  began  yester- 
day and  almost  finished  to-day. 

Sunday,  January  22.  "About  nine,  went  on  board  with 
Captain  Whiting,  who  is  always  extremely  civil.  Visited  the 
sick  and  read  prayers  in  the  cabin.  Read  prayers,  preached  my 
sermon  on  Early  Piety,  on  open  deck  to  the  soldiers ;  the 
ofificers  and  other  gentlemen  attending  very  seriously.  After- 
noon preached  at  Upper  Deal,  on  Acts  xxviii.  26.  Many 
seemed  pricked  to  the  heart,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  follow 
.me  wherever  I  should  go." 

While  lying  in  the  Downs,  besides  his  regular  labors,  Mr. 
Whitefield  engaged  much  in  personal  religious  conversation 
with  the  soldiers  and  officers,  and  spent  much  time  and  enjoyed 
imicJi  pleas7ire  and  covifort  in  writing  and  receiving  letters  from 
his  London  friends.  He  often  sat  up  till  two  or  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  writing  letters  to  his  friends.  On  one  occasion, 
he  says,  "the  reception  of  letters  from  my  London  friends  filled, 
my  soul  with  unutterable  pleasure,  and  caused  me  to  shed 
tears  of  joy." 

January  24.  Visited  Mr.  E.,  "who  most  kindly  entertained 
us,  and  offered  me  his  boat  to  go  or  come  on  shore  when  I 
pleased.  After  we  returned  from  his  house,  we  kneeled  down 
on  the  shore,  and  prayed   for  them   that  opposed  themselves, 


66  LIFE    OF    WIIITEFIELD. 

and  then  went  to  bed  blessing  and  praising  God."  "  When  the 
heart  is  full  of  God,  outward  things  affect  it  little." 

-January  25.  At  Whitefield's  request,  the  captain  pardoned 
a  woman  who  was  sentenced  to  be  sent  on  shore.  He  preached 
to-day  at  Upper  Deal,  to  a  large  congregation,  with  great  effect. 
He  says,  "a  divine  fire  seems  to  be  kindling  there."  "A//  Deal 
seems  to  be  in  a  holy  flaineT  And  nearly  all  on  board  the 
Whitaker  had  now  become  very  serious,  "  and  there  were  great 
hopes  of  the  captain's  conversion."  "Oh!  that  I  may  catch 
them  by  a  holy  guile." 

Sabbath,  January  29.  Visited  the  sick,  read  prayers, 
preached  once  on  sea,  twice  on  land  to  crowded  congregations, 
and  spoke  four  hours  to  four  companies  who  collected  to  hear 
him  at  his  lodgings,*  and,  says  he,  "  I  was  but  little,  if  any, 
fatigued." 

Thus  he  labored  incessantly,  and  "  went  about  doing  good," 
until  the  winds  shifted,  and  orders  came,  "  Prepare  yourselves 
firr  sailing.''  He  received  the  news  with  joy,  but  his  London 
friends  received  it  with  sorrow.  They  retired  for  a  parting 
season  of  prayer,  but  they  had  to  be  very  brief  "  Having 
therefore  commended  ourselves  to  God,  I  took  my  leave.  But 
oh,  what  affection  did  the  Deal  people  express  to  my  un- 
worthy person  ! — for  no  sooner  were  they  apprised  of  the  wind 
being  fair,  than^  they  came  running  in  droves  after  me  to  the 
seashore,  wishing  me  good  luck  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  and 
with  tears,  praying  for  my  success  and  safe  return.  I  was  con- 
founded with  a  sense  of  God's  mercies  to  me."  "  The  sea 
was  very  boisterous  indeed,"  but  he  went  on  singing  psalms 
and  praising  God,  with  the  water  dashing  in  his  face  all  the 
way.     They  reached  the  Whitaker  and  got  aboard  about  five, 

*When  large  crowds  collected  at  his  lodgings,  he  divided  them  into  compa- 
nies in  order  to  be  heard. 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE   TO    AMERICA.  ^J 

and  were  received  with  great  joy,  while  the  ship  was  under  sail. 
Owing  to  the  winds  shifting,  they  were  detained  in  the  Downs 
until  February  2d,  and  the  same  wind  that  carried  Whitefield 
out,  brought  John  Wesley  into  the  Downs.  Wesley  sailed  in 
February  i,  and  Whitefield  sailed  out  February  2d.* 

On  February  3  they  made  a  \Q.xy  narrow  escape,  and  God 
wrought  for  them  a  glorious  deliverance.  "An  East  India  ship 
sailing  very  briskly,"  he  says,  "  ran  within  four  yards  of  us, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  the  expertness  of  the  captain,  both 
ships  must  inevitably  have  split  one  against  another."  Besides 
catechising  and  teaching  the  children,  Whitefield  now  preached 
daily  to  the  soldiers  on  deck,  and  usually  on  Sundays  to  the 
officers  in  the  great  cabin.  At  the  captain's  request,  he  now 
read  prayers  morning  and  evening  in  the  great  cabin.  He 
soon  gave  them  one  sermon  on  "Justification  by  Faith,"  and 
another  on  "  The  Eternity  of  Hell  Torments."  Encouraged 
with  this  beginning  to  have  full  public  prayers,  Mr.  Whitefield 
exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God !  for  I  hope  we  shall  now  begin  to 
live  like  Christians  and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  daily. 
The  very  thoughts  of  God's  granting  me  this  petition  filled  me 
with  joy." 

STORM    AT    SEA. 

On  February  14,  "about  twelve  at  night,"  he  says,  "a  fresh 
gale  arose,  which  increased  so  rapidly  by  four  in  the  morning, 
that  the  waves  raged  horribly  indeed,  and  broke  in  like  a  river 
on  many  of  the  poor  soldiers  who  lay  near  the  main  hatchway. 

*The  ship  that  brought  Wesley  hack  from  Georgia,  passed  Deal  while  While- 
field  was  there,  but  neither  of  the  noted  men  knew  it  at  the  time.  Whitefield 
was  surprised  to  receive  a  letter  from  Wesley  saying,  "  When  I  saw  God  by  the 
wind  which  was  carrying  you  out  brought  me  in,  I  asked  counsel  of  God.  His 
answer  you  have  enclosed."  What  was  it  ?  "Let  him  (that  is,  Whitefield)  return 
to  London." 


68  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

I  rose  and  called  upon  God  for  myself,  for  those  sailing  with 
me,  for  absent  friends,  and  for  all  mankind.  After  this  I  went 
oi;  deck,  but  surely  a  more  noble,  awful  sight,  my  eyes  never 
beheld;  for  the  waves  rose  mountain  high,  and  sometimes 
came  on  the  quarter  deck.  I  ende^ivored  all  the  while  to 
magnify  God  for  thus  making  His  power  known;  and  then 
creeping  on  my  knees  (for  I  knew  not  how  to  go  otherwise),  1 
went  between  decks  and  sung  psalms  and  comforted  the  poor 
wet  soldiers  and  people.  The  storm  raged,  but  God  was  so 
good  to  assist  me,  that  though  things  were  tumbling,  the  ship 
rocking,  and  persons  falling  down  sick  about  me,  yet  I  never 
was  more  cheerful  in  my  life,  and  was  enabled,  though  in  the 
midst  of  company,  to  finish  a  sermon  before  I  went  to  bed." 
He  observed  the  fourteenth  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 

ARRIVES    AT    GIBR.\LTAR. 

While  busy  preaching,  writing  sermons,  and  catechising  the 
women  and  children,  he  reached  Spain,  Sabbath,  February  19, 
and  landed  at  Gibraltar,  the  "  mart  of  nations."  He  preached 
on  board  the  same  day  they  arrived.  Delighted  with  the 
pleasant  sailing,  and  deeply  impressed  with  the  sight  of  the 
huge  promontories,  the  impregnable  fort,  and  the  vast,  tower- 
ing rocks,  he  says,  "  I  could  not  avoid  thanking  Go'd  for  calling 
me  abroad.'.'  Upon  going  ashore,  he  was  delighted  with  the 
place,  and  very  kindly  received  by  Governor  Sabine,  who 
invited  him  to  dine  with  him  ever>'  day  he  was  in  town^  The 
ministers  also  received  him  very  affectionately,  and  offered  him 
the  use  of  their  pulpits.  He  preached  in  one  of  them  one  day, 
and  was  pleased  to  see  so  many  officers  and  soldiers  accom- 
pany the  general  to  church.  After  a  gentleman  had  kindly 
provided  him  comfortable  private  lodgings,  he  and  Mr.  Haber- 
sham went  to  church  one  morning  at  six  o'clock  "  to  pray  with 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE   TO    AMERICA.  69 

some  devout  soldiers,  with  whom,"  he  says,  "  my  soul  was  knit 
immediately."  "They  were  called  'New  Lights!  Another 
small  society  were  called  'Dark  Lanterns!"  "The  former,"  said 
Whitefield,  "were  'a  glorious  light.'  They  were  'a  light  in 
a  dark  place.' "  They  formerly  met  secretly  in  dens  and  caves 
of  the  rocks  for  prayer,  and  praise.  For  their  piety  they  at- 
tracted Whitefield's  attention'  more  than  anything  else  in  the 
city.  Dr.  Philip  called  them  "  TJie  Metliodists  of  Gibraltar." 
The  next  Sabbath  morning,  he  visited  them  again,  and  sung, 
prayed  and  expounded  with  them  with  much  comfort.  He 
preached  again  the  same  morning  in  one  of  the  churches  to  a 
thronged  congregation  of  officers  and  soldiers,  with  a  very 
deep  effect.  He  had  now  been  preaching  or  expounding  daily 
for  some  time,  "  and  perceived  the  Word  of  God  to  run  very 
swiftly."  Upon  seeing  several  soldiers  on  their  knees  at  their 
private  devotions  as  he  entered  the  church,  he  exclaimed,  "  0 
happy  Gibraltar,  that  hast  such  a  set  of  praying  men !"  On 
March  3,  he  preached  his  sermon  against  swearing  to  a  very 
thronged  congregation  in  the  church,  and  made  a  farewell  ap- 
plication to  the  soldiers  that  were  about  to  leave  for  Georgia. 
Many  officers  and  soldiers  wept  sorely,  and  the  effect  was  very 
deep.  The  interest  had  now  increased  so  greatly,  that  his  con- 
gregations numbered  over  one  thousand  hearers.  One  day  he 
went  to  see  the  "  Roman  Catholics  at  their  high  mass."  He 
said,  "  There  needs  no  other  argument  against  popery,  than  to 
see  the  pageantry,  superstition,  and  idolatry  of  their  worship." 

farewell   to    GIBRALTAR. 

The  interest  had  increased  so  greatly,  that  his  congrega- 
tions numbered  over  a  thousand  hearers ;  and  in  summing  up 
his  labors  here,  he  says,  "Sampson's  Riddle  has  been  fulfilled 
at  Gibraltar.     Out  of  the  eater  came  forth  m.eat ;    out  of  the 


70  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

strong  came  forth  sweetness.  Who  more  unlikely  to  be 
wrought  upon  than  soldiers?  and  yet  I  have  not  been  amongst 
any  set  of  people  where  God  has  made  His  power  more  to  be 
known.  Many  that  were  quite  stark  blind,  have  received  their 
sight ;  and  many  that  have  fallen  back,  have  repented  and 
turned  to  the  Lord;  and  many  saints  have  had  their  hearts 
filled  with  joy  unspeakable.  It  was  quite  a  revival.  I  should 
have  wondered  if  God  had  not  sent  me  a  thorn  in  the  flesh, 
after  such  abundant  success."  On  March  6th  about  noon,  he 
"went  to  the  church,  and  gave  ?i  farewell  exhortation  to  a  great 
number  of  weeping  soldiers,  women,  etc.,  and  after  commending 
each  other  to  God's  care,  I  bid  farewell  to  the  generals  and  the 
confined  prisoners."  About  two  hundred  soldiers,  officers,  ladies, 
etc.,  accompanied  him  to  the  ship,  "who  all  sorrowed  at  his 
departure,  and  wished  him  good  luck  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 
On  March  9,  Whitefield  married  a  couple  on  deck,  and 
gave  them  a  suitable  exhortation.  The  next  day  they  had  a 
violent  storm  at  sea,  and  he  began  to  expound  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments in  the  great  cabin.  His  seasickness  now  became 
worse.  But  he  said,  "  Suffering  times  are  a  Christian's  best 
improving  times.  For  they  break  the  will,  wean  us  from  the 
creature,  and  improve  the  heart."  His  friend  Habersham  took 
very  good  care  of  him.  Besides  going  on  with  his  regular 
routine  of  duties,  on  the  fifteenth  he  commenced  to  canvass 
the  hearts  of  his  people  "  one  by  one,  to  see  what  account  they 
could  give  of  their  faith."  Although  he  did  not  find  them  all 
"  great  proficients,"  "yet  I  find  they  know  enough  to  save  them, 
if  they  put  it  in  practice."  Mr.  Habersham  had  now  established 
a  regular  School  on  the  ship,  and  the  children  began  to  come  at 
regular  hours.  They  made  rapid  progress.  Whitefield  exam- 
ined them  occasionally,  and  was  much  encouraged  with  the 
prospect  of  their  speedy  conversion. 


HIS    FIRST    Vcn'AGE    TO    AMERICA.  7 1 

He  observed  the  i6th  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
preached  again  his  sermon  against  swearing.  He  says  :  "  Sev- 
eral of  the  soldiers  wept.  Blessed  be  God !  sin  is  much  abated 
amongst  us."  Whitefield  now  began  to  extend  his  labors  to  the 
accompanying  ships.  Accompanied  by  Captain  Whiting  he 
went  on  board  the  "  Lightfoot ;"  dined  with  the  officers  of  the 
ship ;  married  a  couple ;  preached  a  sermon  against  drunken- 
ness ;  distributed  Bibles,  Testaments  and  religious  books,  and 
exchanged  some  books  for  cards,  and  threw  the  cards  into  the 
ocean.  The  next  day  he  visited  the  ''Amy"  and  performed 
similar  labors.  On  returning  to  the  "  Whitaker,"  he  preached 
his  sermon  against  drunkenness,  and  Captain  Mackay  exhorted 
his  men  to  take  heed  to  what  they  had  heard. 

Many  of  the  soldiers,  who  did  little  else  but  curse  and  swear 
when  Mr.  Whitefield  came  on  board,  now  attend  prayers  twice 
a  day,  and  "  several  give  good  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart." 
Scarce  an  oath  is  heard  among  them.  "  We  live  in  perfect  har- 
mony and  peace,  loving  and  beloved  of  one  another." 

"Surely,  my  friends,"  says  Whitefield,  "your  prayers  are 
heard.  Continue  instant  in  them,  and  you  shall  see  greater 
things  than  these."  He  now  exchanged  some  good  books  for 
some  bad  ones,  and  threw  the  latter  overboard  with  great  joy. 
During  this  voyage  Whitefield  says  :  "  I  was  enabled  to  write 
letters  and  compose  sermons,  as  though  I  had  been  on  land." 
Altogether,  there  were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  on 
board. 

WHITEFIELD    AND   THE   SHARK. 

March  20.  "  To-day,  while  dining,  we  were  entertained  with 
a  most  agreeable  sight.  It  was  a  shark  about  the  length  of 
a  man,  which  follovv^ed  our  ship  attended  with  five  little  fishes 
called  the  pilot-fish.     These,  I  am  told,  always  keep  the  shark 


72 


LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 


company,  and,  what  is  more  surprising,  though  the  shark  is  so 
ravenous  a  creature,  yet  let  it  be  never  so  hungry,  it  never 
touches  one  of  them.  Nor  are  they  less  faithful  to  him.  For, 
if  at  any  time  the  shark  is  hooked,  these  little  creatures  will  not 
forsake  him,  but  cleave  close  to  his  fins,  and  are  often  taken 
up  with  him.  Go  to  the  pilot-fish,  thou  that  forsakest  a  friend 
in  adversity,  consider  his  ways  and  be  abashed,  and  learn  how 
to  hold  fast.  Go  to  the  pilot-fish,  thou  back-slider,  and  learn 
how  to  persevere  and  ''cleave  to  the  Lord!  " 

March  23,  "  This  morning  we  began  to  have  prayers  at  6 
o'clock,  and  the  drum  to  beat  to  call  the  people.  Visited  twelve 
or  fourteen  patients;  and  yet,  such  is  God's  mercy  to  me, 
that  though  the  place  where  they  lie  is  much  confined,  and 
they  catch  the  fever  from  one  another,  yet  God  keeps  me  from 
taking  it.  T/ie  way  of  duty  is  the  way  of  safety/  Nothing 
more  useful  than  visiting  sick-beds." 

WHITEFIELD  "  BREAKING    CHILDREN'S   WILLS." 

March  31.  "  Had  a  good  instance  of  the  benefit  of  breaking 
children's  wills.  Last  night  going  between  decks  (as  I  do 
cveiy  night)  to  visit  the  sick  and  to  examine  my  people,  I  asked 
one  of  the  women  to  bid  her  boy  that  stood  by  her,  say  his 
prayers ;  she  answered,  his  elder  sister  would,  but  she  could 
not  make  him.  Upon  this,  I  bid  the  child  to  kneel  down  before 
me,  but  it  would  not  until  I  took  hold  of  its  two  feet  and  forced 
it  down.  I  then  bid  it  say  the  Lord's  Prayer  (being  informed 
by  his  mother  he  could  say  it  if  he  would),  but  he  obstinately 
refused,  until  at  last,  after  I  had  given  it  several  blows,  it  said 
its  prayers  as  well  as  could  be  expected,  and  I  gave  it  some 
figs  for  a  reward.  And  this  same  child,  though  not  above  four 
years  of  age,  came  to-night  on  deck  when  the  other  children 
came  to  say  their  prayers  to  my  friend  H.,  and  burst  out  into  a 


HIS    FIRST    VOYAGE    TO    AMERICA.  73 

flood  of  tears,  and  would  not  go  away  until  he  said  his  too.  I 
mention  this  as  a  proof  of  the  necessity  of  early  correction ; 
children  are  sensible  of  it  sooner  than  parents  imagine.  And 
if  they  would  but  have  resolution  to  break  their  wills  thoroughly 
when  young,  the  work  of  conversion  would  be  much  easier, 
and  they  would  not  be  so  troubled  with  perverse  children  when 
they  are  old." 

Whitefield  now  frequently  preached  on  all  three  of  the  ships, 
the  "  Wliitakcr"  the  ''  Lightfoof  and  the  "Amy,"  on  the  same 
day,  and  says  :  "  Blessed  be  God,  we  live  very  comfortably  in 
the  great  cabin.  We  talk  of  little  else  but  God  and  Christ. 
Scarce  a  word  is  to  be  heard  but  what  has  reference  to  our  fall 
in  the  first,  and  our  new  birth  in  the  second  Adam."  On  one 
occasion  "  he  preached  with  a  captain  on  each  side  of  him  and 
soldiers  all  around  him ;  and  the  two  other  ships'  companies 
being  at  times  in  the  trade  winds,  drew  near  and  joined  in  the 
worship  of  God."  Trembling  with  fear  and  burning  with  fever, 
the  greatest  swearer  on  board  now  sent  for  Whitefield  to  go  and 
see  him  in  his  distress.  He  went,  and  the  poor  sinner  freely 
confessed  his  "grievous  sins,  and  prayed  most  fervently  for 
repentance."  Whitefield  had  given  him  an  effectual  w^arning 
two  days  before.  Late  in  April,  from  exposure  in  nursing  the 
sick,  Whitefield  was  taken  with  "  a  violent  fever."  Nearly  all 
on  board  had  it.  He  was  well  cared  for.  Captain  Whiting 
gave  him  his  bed,  and  Mr.  Habersham  nursed  him  most  ten- 
derly. And  what  delighted  him  most,  the  sick  between  decks 
prayed  fervently  for  him.  He  said :  "  I  was  bled  thrice,  and 
blistered  and  vomited  once ;  and  blessed  be  God,  I  can  say  it  is 
good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflcted,  for  God  has  enabled  me 
to  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  I  thought 
I  was  on  the  brink  of  eternity.  I  had  heaven  within  me,  and 
thought  of  nothing  in  this  world."     He  longed  to  depart. 


74  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

On  May  5th  Whitefield  attended  the  funeral  of  the  ship  cook, 
who  had  lately  boasted  "  that  he  would  be  wicked  till  two  years 
before  he  died,  and  then  he  would  be  good ;"  but,  alas !  he  was 
suddenly  taken  sick  and  died  in  about  six  hours  after  he  made 
the  foolish  resolution. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  voyage  the  religious  interest  became 
so  great,  that  Dr.  Gillies  says,  "  The  great  cabin  now  became  a 
bethel,  the  deck  a  cliurcli,  and  the  stern  a  school-room.  With 
two  captains  made  almost  Christians,  one  young  gentleman 
and  several  soldiers  hopefully  converted,  religion  was  now  the 
principal  subject  of  conversation.  In  a  word,"  says  Dr.  Gillies, 
"  there  was  a  reformation  throughout  the  whole  soldiery.  The 
women  exclaimed,  '  What  a  change  in  the  captain  !'  "  White- 
field  had  labored  hard.  "  For  many  days  and  nights  he  had 
visted  between  twenty  and  thirty  sick  persons,  f/vr^c//;/^  Jtpon  his 
knees  between  decks,  to  administer  medicines  and  cordials  and 
give  advice  suitable  to  their  circumstances."  God  gave  him 
such  a  signal  success  that  he  says,  "  Hitherto  I  have  been 
made  to  go  on  from  conquering  to  conquer." 

At  length,  "  having  lain  about  a  week  on  the  coast,"  he  says, 
"  we  saw  Savannah  River,  and  sent  off  for  a  pilot.  Oh,  what  joy 
appeared  in  every  countenance !  How  infinitely  more  joyful 
will  the  children  of  God  be,  when  they  arrive  at  the  haven  of 
everlasting  rest!"  On  May  7,  1738,  after  "a  long,  yet  exceed- 
ingly pleasant  voyage,"  they  cast  anchor  near  Tybee  Island, 
about  fourteen  miles  off  Savannah.  After  preaching  his  fare- 
well sermon,  "  at  which  many  wept,"  he  and  Mr.  Habersham 
"  took  boat  and  arrived  at  Savannah  about  seven  in  the  evening. 
What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies !" 

With  full  confidence  in  God's  protecting  power,  Whitefield  now 
went  forth,  saying,  "  I  am  now  going  forth  as  a  sheep  among 
wolves ;  but  he  that  protected  Abraham  when  he  went  out  not 
knowing  whither  he  went,  will  also  guide  and  protect  me." 


CHAPTER    VIII 


WHITEFIELDS    FIRST    VISIT   TO    AMERICA. 

AVING  set  his  foot  upon  American  soil,  with 
a  heart  glowing  with  gratitude  to  God,  he  hast- 
ened to  unite  with  his  friends  in  prayer  and 
praise  for  his  safe  arrival.  He  landed  about 
seven  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  May  7,  1738, 
and  was  very  kindly  received  at  the  Parsonage 
House,  by  Mr.  Delamotte,  the  Mission  School 
teacher  at  Savannah,  with  whom  he  spent  the 
balance  of  the  evening  in  taking  sweet  counsel  about  the  affairs 
of  the  little  colony. 

After  receiving  calls  from  some  of  Mr.  Wesley's  friends,  he 
read  public  prayers  and  expounded  the  scriptures  in  the  Court 
House,  the  next  day,  to  17  adults  and  25  children.  Out  of 
respect  the  magistrates  proposed  to  wait  upon  him  the  next 
day,  but  he  chose  rather  to  wait  upon  them.  They  received 
him  with  great  respect,  and  their  conversation  turned  upon  the 
place  of  his  settlement.  It  was  finally  agreed  that  they  would 
build  him  a  house  and  tabernacle  at  Frederica,  and  have  him 
serve  the  church  at  Savannah  as  long  as  convenient. 

The  first  thing  he  did,  after  recovering  from  a  short  spell  of 
sickness,  was  to  visit  TimocJiichi,  an  Indian  king,  then  lying  at 
the  point  of  death  on  a  thin  blanket  at  a  neighbor's  house.  His 
wife,  Senauki,  sat  by,  fanning  him  with  some  Indian  feathers. 
In  a  few  days  Mr,  Whitefield  went  to  see  him  again,  wluii 
Tooanoowee,  his  nephew,  was  present,  who  could  talk  Ki>i;lish. 

(75) 


76  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

"  I  desired  him  to  ask  his  uncle  whether  he  thought  he  should 
die.  He  answered :  *  I  cannot  tell.'  I  then  asked  him  where 
he  thought  he  would  go  after  death.  He  replied :  *  To 
heaven.'  '  But,  alas  !  how  can  a  drunkard  enter  there  ?'  I  then 
exhorted  young  Tooanoowee  not  to  get  drunk,  telling  him  he 
understood  English,  and,  therefore,  he  would  be  punished  the 
more  if  he  did  not  live  better.  I  then  asked  him  whether  he 
believed  in  a  heaven.  He  answered :  '  Yes.'  I  then  asked 
liim  if  he  believed  in  a  hell,  and  described  it  by  pointing  to  the 
fire.  He  replied :  '  No.'  From  whence  we  may  easily  gathef-, 
liow  natural  it  is  to  all  mankind  to  believe  there  is  a  place  of 
happiness,  because  they  wish  it  may  be  so,  and,  on  the  con- 
trary, how  averse  they  are  to  believe  in  a  place  of  torment, 
because  they  wish  it  may  not  be  so.  But  God  is  just ;  and  as 
surely  as  the  good  shall  go  into  everlasting  happiness,  the 
wicked  shall  go  into  everlasting  punishment." 

Recovering  his  strength,  and  hungering  for  souls,  he  soon 
went  out  to  survey  the  condition  of  the  little  colony ;  and  in 
visiting  the  small  neighboring  villages  of  Hampstead  and  High- 
gate,  he  became  deeply  impressed  with  the  wants  of  the 
children.  In  devising  means  for  their  education  and  protec- 
tion, he  then  and  there  (May  16,  1738,)  determined  to  erect  an 
Orphan  House,  and  besought  the  blessing  of  God  to  attend  his 
efforts.  Meanwhile  he  did  what  he  could,  and  established  a 
school  at  Highgate  for  those  two  villages  and  one  at  Savannah 
for  girls.  He  then  visited  the  Saltsburgers  at  Ebenezer,  and 
found  things  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  Tfiere  they  had 
two  pious  ministers,  Mr.  Boltzius  and  Mr.  Grenaw,  who  (as 
they  have  no  courts  of  jurisdiction)  decide  all  little  differences 
among  the  people.  They  have  also  a  good  Orphan  House, 
with  which  Mr.  Whitefield  was  so  much  pleased  that  he  gave 
Mr.  Boltzius  a  share  of  his  '^ poor's  store"  for  his  orphans  ;  after 


VVHITEFIELD's    first    visit    to    AMERICA.  7/ 

which  he  called  them  all  together,  catechised  and  exhorted 
them  to  be  thankful  for  the  gift,  prayed  with  them,  heard  them 
pray,  sung  a  psalm,  and  then  "  the  little  lambs  came  and  shook 
me  by  the  hand  one  by  one,  and  so  we  parted,  and  I  scarce  was 
ever  better  pleased  in  my  life."  This  interesting  sight  strength- 
ened his  purpose  and  fired  his  zeal  to  go  on  with  his  own  pro- 
posed Orphan  House. 

Early  in  June  his  dear  friend  Mr.  Delamotte  embarked  for 
England,  which  left  Mr,  Whitefield  almost  alone.  And  surely, 
says  he,  "  I  must  labor  most  heartily,  since  I  come  after  such 
worthy  predecessors  as  Mr.  Wesley  and  Delamotte."  Although 
"  Blackwood's  Edinburgh  Magazine  "  pronounces  Mr.  Wesley's 
mission  to  America  an  "entire  failure,"  and  that  "he  left  the 
American  shores  all  but  driven  out,"  and  although  Mr.  Tyer- 
man  says,  "Wesley's  mission  to  America  seemed  a  failure,"  yet 
Whitefield,  who  had  a  good  opportunity  to  know,  says  in  his 
journal,  "The  good  Mr.  John  Wesley  has  done  in  America  is 
inexpressible.  His  name  is  very  precious  among  the  people, 
and  he  has  laid  such  a  foundation  that  I  hope  neither  men  nor 
devils  will  ever  be  able  to  shake." 

After  laboring  about  five  weeks  in  Savannah,  Mr.  Whitefield 
says,  "  God  has  graciously  visited  me  with  a  fit  of  sickness,  but 
now  I  am  lively  as  a  young  eagle.  All  things  have  happened 
better  than  I  expected.  America  is  not  so  horrid  a  place 
as  it  is  represented  to  be.  The  heat  of  the  weather,  lying  on 
the  ground,  etc.,  are  mere  painted  lions  in  the  way,  and  to  a 
soul  filled  with  divine  love,  not  worth  mentioning.  The 
country  is  exceedingly  pleasant.  God  sets  his  seal  to  my  min- 
istry here,  as  at  other  places.  We  have  an  excellent  Christian 
school,  and  near  a  hundred  constantly  attend  at  evening  prayers. 
The  people  receive  me  gladly  into  their  houses,  and  seem  to 
be  most  kindly  affected    towards    me.     We    do   not  want    for 


78  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

provisions.  Blessed  be  God,  I  visit  from  house  to  house, 
catechise,  read  prayers  twice,  and  expound  the  two  second 
lessons  every  day ;  read  to  a  house  full  of  people  three  times  a 
week ;  expound  the  two  lessons  at  five  in  the  morning,  read 
prayers  and  preach  twice ;  and  expound  the  catechism  to  ser- 
vants at  seven  every  Sunday  evening.  What  I  have  most  at 
heart  now,  is  the  building  of  an  Orphan  House,  which  I  trust 
will  be  effected  at  my  return  to  England.  .  .  .  Oh,  dear  Mr.  //., 
pray  for  me." 

The  people  of  Savannah,  although  made  up  of  different 
nations,  holding  different  opinions,  heard  him  gladly.  And  in 
searching  for  souls  and  exploring  his  new  field  of  labor,  some- 
times he  would  go  out  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  to  visit  a  few 
families.  Longing  for  their  salvation,  he  not  only  preached  to 
them  powerfully  from  the  pulpit,  but  he  endeavored  to  set  them 
a  bright  example.  Says  he,  "  I  have  striven  to  draw  them  with 
cords  of  love." 

FREDERICA. 

Having  spent  about  two  months  in  Savannah  in  looking  up 
the  lost  sheep,  he  sailed  down  to  Frederica,  a  small  town  over 
one  hundred  miles  "southward.  The  people  here  being  very 
hungry  for  the  gospel,  they  received  him  most  heartily.  There 
being  no  church,  he  preached  in  the  evening  under  a  big  tree 
to  a  very  attentive  congregation.  The  next  day  be  began  to 
visit  from  house  to  house,  and  perceiving  their  destitution,  he 
was  touched  with  feelings  of  compassion,  and  exclaimed,  "  Poor 
creatures,  my  heart  ached  for  them."  He  stirred  them  up,  and 
before  night  "  the  timber  was  sawing  to  erect  a  house  of  wor- 
ship." His  return  to  Savannah  was  hastened  by  hearing  that 
his  friend  H.'s  brother  had  got  lost  in  hunting  a  lost  horse. 
The  people  hunted  for  the  lost  man.  Great  guns  were  fired  to 
direct  his  steps  ;  while  Whitefield  prayed  and  gave  God  thanks 


WHITEFIELU'S    FIRST    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  79' 

for  the  trial,  and  resolved  to  start  for  Savannah  immediately. 
Having  determined  to  start  that  (Saturday)  night,  he  preached 
in  the  evening  to  a  large  weeping  congregation.  And  feeling 
c-^rateful  for  mercies  received,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  God !  how  dost 
Thou  follow  me  with  Thy  blessings  wherever  Thou  sendest  me  ! 
I  looked  for  persecution,  but  lo  !  I  am  received  as  an  angel  of 
God."  Being  disappointed  in  starting,  he  did  not  sail  until  he 
preached  another  sermon  the  next  day,  when  the  people  accom- 
panied him  to  the  ship,  loaded  him  with  presents,  and  bid  him 
an  affectionate  farewell.  His  stay  in  Frederica  was  short,  but 
he  won  the  affections  of  the  people.  He  returned  to  Savannah, 
August  1 6,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  the  "  lost  sheep." 

WHITEFIELD    AND    THE    DYING    INFIDEL. 

On  August  23d,  he  says,  "I  was  obliged  to  express  my  re- 
sejitment  against  infidelity  by  refusing  to  read  the  burial  service 
over  the  most  professed  unbeliever  I  ever  yet  met  with.  God 
was  pleased  to  visit  him  with  a  lingering  illness,  in  which  time 
I  went  to  see  him  frequently.  Particularly  about  five  weeks  ago, 
I  asked  him  what  religion  he  was  of;  he  answered,  '  Religion 
was  divided  into  so  many  sects  he  knew  not  which  to  choose.' 
Another  time  I  offered  to  pray  with  him,  but  he  would  not 
accept  of  it,  when  I  resolved  to  go  to  see  him  no  more  ;  but 
being  told  two  days  before  he  died  that  he  had  an  inclination  to 
see  me,  I  went  to  him  again,  and  after  a  little  conversation, 
I  put  to  him  the  following  questions :  '  Do  you  believe  Jesus 
Christ  to  be  God,  the  one  Mediator  between  God  and  man?' 
He  said,  '  I  believe  Christ  was  a  good  man.'  '  Do  you  believe 
the  Holy  Scriptures?'  'I  believe,' replied  he, 'something  of 
the  Old  Testament;  the  New  I  do  not  believe  at  all.'  '  Do  you 
believe,  sir,  in  a  judgment  to  come?'  He  turned  himself  about 
and  replied,  '  I  know  not  what  to  say  to  that.'     'Alas !'  said  I, 


80  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

'sir,  if  all  these  things  should  be  true' — which  words,  I  believe, 
gave  him  concern,  for  he  seemed  after  to  be  very  uneasy,  grew 
delirious,  and  departed  in  a  day  or  two.  Unhappy  man  1  how 
quickly  was  he  convinced !  Now  he  and  I  are  of  one  mind. 
The  day  after  his  decease,  he  was  carried  to  the  ground ;  I  re- 
fused to  read  the  service  over  him,  but  went  to  the  grave  and 
told  the  people  what  had  passed  between  him  and  me,  warned 
them  against  infidelity,  and  asked  them  whether  I  could  safely 
say,  '  as  our  hope  is  this  our  brother  doth.'  Upon  which,  I 
believe,  they  were  thoroughly  convinced  that  I  had  done  right. 
God  grant  that  this  may  be  a  warning  to  all  surviving  un- 
believers." • 

Anxious  to  obtain  priest's  orders,  and  to  raise  money  for  his 
Orphan  House,  "  to-day,  August  27,"  he  says,  "  I  preached  my 
farewell  sermon,  to  the  great  grief  of  my  dear  parishioners,  for 
their  hearts,  I  found,  were  very  full,  as  well  as  my  own. 
Many  wept  sore.  But  a  sensible  alteration  soon  appeared  in 
their  countenances  when  I  promised  them  solemnly  before  God, 
to  return  as  soon  as  possible."  "  The  weather  was  extremely 
hot,  but  God  enabled  me  to  preach  with  power."  He  started 
the  next  day,  and  the  people  came  from  morning  to  evening 
with  many  tears  and  tokens  of  love  to  take  their  leave  and  wish 
him  a  prosperous  journey  and  a  safe  return.  "  I  thanked  them, 
and  having  desired  their  prayers,  bid  them  farewell."  "  My 
heart  was  full,  and  I  took  the  first  opportunity  of  venting  it  by 
prayers  and  tears.  I  think  I  never  parted  from  a  place  with 
more  regret ;  for  America,  in  my  opinion,  is  an  excellent  school 
to  learn  Christ  in ;  and  I  have  great  hopes  some  good  will 
come  out  of  Savannah,  because  the  longer  I  continued  there, 
the  larger  the  congregations  grew." 

He  went  to  Charleston  to  start,  and  was  very  favorably  im- 
pressed with  the  appearance  of  the  city  and  very  kindly  received 


WHITEFIELD's    first   visit   to   AMERICA.  8 1 

by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Garden,  the  Bishop  of  London's  Commissary, 
who  assured  him,  that  should  he  be  treated  as  illy  as  Mr. 
Wesley  had  been,  he  would  defend  him  with  his  life  and  fortune. 
He  preached  twice  the  next  day  after  his  arrival.  Blest  with 
God's  presence,  and  the  hearty  co-operation  of  many  warm 
friends,  his  visit  and  labors  of  four  months  in  America  were  a 
complete  success.* 

*"  During  my  stay  here,  the  weather  was  most  intensely  hot,  sometimes  burning 
me  almost  through  my  shoes.  Seeing  others  do  it  who  were  as  unable,  I 
determined  to  inure  myself  to  hardships,  by  lying  constantly  on  the  ground,  which, 
by  use,  I  found  to  he  so  far  from  being  a  hardship,  that  afterwards  it  became  s<> 
to  lie  in  a  bed." 
6 


CHAPTER     IX. 

(^i;»^:y  his  return  to  England. 

^yG^  AVING  won  the  affections  of  the  people  and 
made  his  mark  in  America,  he  sailed  from 
Charleston  on  the  "  Mary  "  for  England,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1738.  With  but  few  persons  on 
board,  his  sphere  of  action  was  now  confined  to 
a  very  small  compass.  Yet,  encouraged  with 
the  fact  that  they  were  all  very  civil,  he  went 
forth  with  the  hope  "  that  the  retirement  would 
break  his  will,  purify  his  heart,  and  fit  him  for  the  great  work 
before  him,"  Owing  to  contrary  winds  they  were  tossed  about 
"  from  bar  to  bar  "  nearly  two  weeks  before  they  got  fairly 
under  way.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  Mr.  Whitefield  advanced 
upon  this  voyage  with  forebodings  of  evil.  And  ere  they  had 
sailed  but  a  few  hundred  miles  his  strong  faith  and  great  joy  in 
tribulation  were  seen  in  the  following  terrible  storm  at  sea. 
It  rose  about  1 1  o'clock  at  night  and  continued  till  four  in 
the  morning.  It  was  so  severe  that  "  it  put  the  sailors  and 
officers  to  their  wits'  end  to  manage  the  ship."  "  They  said 
they  had  never  seen  the  like  of  it  before.  The  main  sail  was 
rent  in  several  pieces  and  much  of  the  tackling  split  all  to 
tatters  ;  and  not  a  dry  place  was  to  be  found  in  all  the  ship. 
The  captain's  hammock  in  the  great  cabin  was  half  full  of 
water.  In  short,  all  was  terror  and  confusion,  men's  hearts 
failing  them  for  fear,  and  the  wind  and  the  sea  raging  most 

terribly.      But  God,  forever  be  adored  His  unmerited  good- 

(82) 


HIS    RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  83 

ness,  was  exceeding  gracious  unto  me.  For  I  felt  a  sweet  com- 
placency in  my  will,  in  submission  to  His.  Many  particular 
promises  God  has  made  me  from  His  word,  that  I  should  return 
in  peace,  flowed  in  upon  my  heart.  And  He  enabled  me  greatly 
to  rejoice.  Most  of  our  fresh  provisions  are  washed  overboard, 
and  our  tackling  being  much  out  of  order,  we  have  a  prospect 
of  but  an  indifferent  voyage.  But  blessed  be  God,  tJie  prospect 
pleases  ine.  For  now  I  shall  learn,  I  trust,  how  to  want  as 
well  as  how  to  abound,  and  how  to  endure  hardship  like  a 
good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  O  Lord,  let  Thy  strength  be 
magnified  in  my  weakness,  and  say  unto  my  soul,  //  is  I,  be  not 
afraid,  and  then  let  storms  and  tempests  do  their  worst." 

How  grand  this  sublime  victory  of  faith  !  Gaze  upon  the 
awful  scene — the  waves  dash — the  vessel  heaves — the  rigging 
cracks,  and  with  men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  all  was  terror 
and  dismay.  But  amid  all  this  distressing  confusion,  there  lies 
the  unterrified  Whitefield,  calm  and  composed.  Reposing  in 
the  arms  of  Jesus,  although  the  angry  waves  rolled  over  him, 
when  all  was  distress  without,  yet  to  him  with  his  hope 
anchored  within  the  veil  all  was  joy  and  peace  within.  Shortly 
after  the  storm  was  over,  he  gathered  the  people  together  and 
exhorted  them  "  to  bless  God  for  their  deliverance,  and  to  sin 
no  more,  lest  a  worse  storm  should  befall  them." 

By  the  middle  of  October  he  says,  "  God  has  been  pleased 
to  send  me  many  inward  trials.  And  now  my  fresh  provisions 
are  gone,  and  the  people  are  put  to  an  allowance  of  a  quart  of 
water  to  each  man  per  day ;  I  hope  the  spiritual  man  will  grow, 
having  so  little  for  the  natural  man  to  feed  on.  Blessed  be 
God,  I  rejoice  in  necessities,  and  do  in  every  thing  give  thanks." 

While  thus  shut  up  in  his  ship-retirement,  searching  the 
Scriptures,  and  praying  for  further  preparatio7i  for  the  great 
work   before   him,  he  was  deeply  impressed  and  encouraged  , 


84  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

with  the  fact,  graphically  expressed  by  Mr.  Henry,  "  The  mower 
loses  no  time  while  whetting  his  scythed 

Whitefield's  moral  heroism,  self-denial  and  nobleness  of 
soul,  is  strikingly  exhibited  in  refusing  Captain  Philip's  gener- 
ous offer  in  the  following  case  :  When  they  had  made  about 
one-third  of  their  voyage,  and  Mr.  Whitefield's  fresh  provisions 
were  exhausted,  and  every  man  put  ujDon  short  rations,  they 
were  pvertaken  by  the  "  Constant,"  Captain  Philips,  bound  from 
Jamaica.  Learning  their  destitute  condition,  the  Captain  sent 
for  Mr.  Whitefield  to  come  on  board  his  ship,  offering  him  a 
most  commodious  berth.  He  went,  and  was  not  only  very 
kindly  received,  but  they  gave  him  all  the  provisions  they 
could  spare.  "A  most  providential  supply,"  exclaimed  White- 
field,  "for  ours  is  quite  out."  But  he  refused  to  give  up  the 
"Mary,'  and  leave  his  shipmates  in  distress,  choosing  rather 
to  share  their  fate  and  sufferings  than  the  commodious  berth 
on  "The  Constant"  saying,  "Although  there  was  provision  for 
the  flesh  on  the  'Cofistant,'  yet  I  like  my  own  situation  best, 
because  here  are  greater  opportunities  of  denying  myself,  and 
consequently  of  making  farther  improvement  in  the  spirit. 
O,  that  I  may  always  walk  by  this  rule."  After  another 
"  week  of  inward  trials,"  he  says,  "  how  good  is  God  thus 
to  prepare  me  by  sufferings,  so  that  His  blessings  m^y  not 
be  my  ruin."  As  soon  as  they  found  that  the  wind  was  fair, 
they  sung  and  gave  God  thanks  for  His  goodness. 

On  the  next  page  of  his  journal,  he  says,  "  For  the  last  two 
days,  God  has  been  pleased  greatly  to  humble  my  soul,  and 
bring  me  low  by  spiritual  desertions ;  and  He  has  sent  us 
another  contrary  wind,  blessed  be  His  name.  Our  allowance 
of  water  is  now  but  a  pint  a  day,  and  no  one  knows  where  we 
are  ;  but  God  does,  and  that  is  sufficient."  Come  again,  gentle 
reader,   and    see    Whitefield    rejoicing  in   tribulation:     "Last 


HIS    RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  85 

night  God  lifted  up  the  hght  of  His  blessed  countenance  upon 
me,  and  to-day  fills  me  with  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of  glory; 
so  that  I  have  little  to  eat,  yet  I  inwardly  possess  all  things.  I 
am  sometimes  afraid  lest  continued  abstinence  may  occasion  a 
bodily  sickness.  But  wherefore  do  I  fear  ?  If  it  does,  that  and 
everything  else  I  know  will  work  for  my  good." 

WHITEFIELD    DEFIES   THE    DEVIL. 

Armed  with  the  panoply  of  heaven,  with  a  firm  reliance 
upon  God  for  protection,  Whitefield,  like  Martin  Luther,  some- 
times felt  himself  so  safe  and  secure  in  Christ,  that  he  bid 
defiance  to  the  devil.  Buffeted  by  Satan,  and  tossed  upon  the 
ocean's  surging  waves,  when  nearing  the  shores  of  England,  he 
exclaimed,  "O  Satan,  Satan,  I  defy  thee  to  do  thy  worst;  thou 
mayest  toss  me  up  and  down,  and  bring  me  into  jeopardy  on 
every  side,  but  Jesus  Christ  is  praying  for  me  on  the  mount. 
And  when  the  time  appointed  is  come,  and  my  soul  hereby 
prepared,  I  shall  have  a  happy  meeting  with  my  dear  friends!" 
Again  he  says,  "  God  is  on  my  side,  I  will  not  fear  what  man 
or  devils  say  of,  or  do  unto  me.  Let  us  keep  the  grace  of 
faith  in  lively  exercise,  and  we  may  bid  death  and  hell  defiance. 
Christ  is  the  believer's  hollow  sqiiare ;  and  if  we  keep  close  in 
that,  we  are  impregnable.  Here  only  I  find  my  refuge.  Gar- 
risoned in  this,  I  can  bid  defiance  to  men  and  devils." 

One  day  a  passenger  cried  out,  "  What  Jonah  have  we  on 
board  ?"  Whitefield  replied,  "  I  am  he !  yet  many  now,  I  be- 
lieve, bless  God  that  I  am  with  them.  For,  say  they,  '  How 
should  we  have  been  blaming  ^and  cursing  one  another,  had  not 
Mr.  Whitefield  been  amongst  us.'  Blessed  be  God,  if  my 
ministry  or  presence  can  be  instrumental  to  prevent  sin  against 
Thee,  O  Lord ;  toss  me  on  the  ocean  as  long  as  it  pleaseth 
Thee." 


86  LltE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

With  rent  sails,  a  shaky  ship,  and  scanty  provisions,  their  suf- 
ferings and  trials  now  began  to  increase.  With  their  daily  fare 
reduced  to  "  an  ounce  or  two  of  salt  beef,  a  pint  of  water  and  a 
cake  made  of  flour  and  s'kimmings  of  the  pot,"  and  suffering 
with  weakness,  hunger  and  thirst,  Whitefield  says :  "  We 
are  brought  very  low."  Yet,  in  meek  submission,  he  said : 
"  Blessed  be  God  for  these  things ;  I  rejoice  in  them  daily. 
And  I  know  they  are  preparations  for  future  mercies.  May 
God,  of  His  infinite  mercy,  humble  me  and  try  me,  till  I  am 
rightly  disposed  to  receive  them.  Amen,  Lord  Jesus,  amen." 
Pierced  by  November's  cold  blasts,  and  sailing  On  in  the  deep 
waters  of  affliction,  Whitefield,  like  suffering  Paul,  could  now 
say  :  "  I  am  in  hungerings  and  thirsting,  cold  and  fastings 
often;  yet,  if  God  still  brings  me  into  greater  wants,  Lord,  I 
desire  not  to  be  exempted  from  suffering.  If  Thy  glory  can  be 
promoted  by  my  trials,  lo !  here  I  arfi ;  scourge  me,  try  me  as  it 
seemeth  good  in  Thy  sight !" 

And  the  nearer  they  approached  the  end  of  their  perilous 
voyage,  and  the  severer  their  trials  became,  the  nearer  he 
seemed  to  draw  to  God.  For  during  the  last  few  days  of  the 
voyage,  he  says  :  "  I  enjoyed  uncommon  serenity  of  soul,  and 
have  given  my  will  to  God.     I  am  wholly  resigned." 

On  November  9,  they  set  their  sails  for  Ireland.  And  hav- 
ing enjoyed  great  peace  of  mind  to-day,  he  says,  "  I  find  all 
uneasiness  arises  from  having  a  will  of  my  own ;  therefore,  I 
simply  desire  to  will  what  God  wills."  At  length,  after  nine 
weeks'  rough  sailing  and  much  suffering,  with  great  joy,  on 
Sabbath  morning,  November  12,  they  came  in  sight  of  land 
while  in  a  large  bay  west  of  Ireland.  Humbled,  subdued,  and 
comforted  under  God's  chastening  hand,  they  jCined  in  a  hymn 
and  prayer  of  thanksgiving  to  God,  for  their  deliverance. 
"  From  which  I  infer,"  he  says,  "  that  a  calmness  of  mind  and 


HIS    RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  8/ 

entire  resignation  to  the  divine  will  is  the  best  preparative  for 
receiving  divine  mercies."  With  "but  half  a  pint  of  water 
left,"  they  were  brought  to  very  great  straits,  from  which  they 
were  not  delivered  until  the  14th,  when,  at  Whitefield's  request, 
the  kind  mate  brought  them  a  boat-load  of  water  and  provi- 
sions ;  whereupon  they  kneeled  down  and  gave  God  thanks. 
Mr.  MacMahon,  a  countiy  gentleman,  as  soon  as  he  heard 
of  their  sufferings,  rose  at  midnight  and  came  to  their  relief, 
and  most  kindly  invited  Mr.  Whitefield  to  his  house  and 
stay  as  long  he  pleased.  He  also  sent  horses  to  carry  him 
thither. 

Though  rough  and  dangerous,  Whitefield  says,  "This 
voyage  has  been  greatly  for  my  good,  and  profitable  to  my 
soul.  It  has  learned  me,  in  some  measure,  to  endure  hard- 
ships. My  clothes  have  not  been  off  (except  to  change),  all 
the  passage.  Part  of  the  time  I  lay  on  open  deck,  part  on  a 
chest,  and  the  remainder  on  a  bedstead  covered  with  my  buffalo 
skin."  Yet  amid  all  these  trying  scenes,  God  blessed  his 
labors,  and  gave  him  souls  on  the  stormy  ocean.  Captain 
Gladman,  one  of  the  passengers,  was  converted,  and  afterwards 
became  Whitefield's  traveling  companion.  On  one  occasion, 
Captain  Coc  was  so  deeply  impressed  under  a  sermon,  that  he 
exclaimed,  "  Lord,  break  this  hard  heart  of  mine,"  Encour- 
aged with  these  fruits,  Whitefield  said,  "  Lord,  if  I  can  but  be 
made  instrumental  to  save  one  soul,  I  care  not  if  I  am  tossed 
on  the  ocean  through  my  whole  life." 

In  going  forth  upon  his  work  now,  he  says,  "  I  fear  nothing 
so  much  as  the  treachery  of  my  heart,  lest  I  should  not  lead  a 
holy  life.  But  He  that  preserved  Daniel  in  the  den  of  lions, 
and  the  three  children  in  the  fiery  furnace,  will,  I  hope,  pre- 
serve me  from  the  fiery  trial  of  popularity,  and  from  the  mis- 
guided  zeal   of   those  who,  without   cause,  are  my  enemies. 


88  LIFE    OF    WIUTFFIELD. 

Father,  into  Thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit.     Guide  me  by 
Thy  unerring  wisdom." 

VVIIITEFIELD    IN    IRELAND. 

On  the  evening  of  November  12,  1738,  they  cast  anchor  at 
Karrigholt  island,  and  Whitcfield  went  ashore.  He  was  most 
kindly  received  and  entertained  by  Mr.  MacMahon,  who  having 
furnished  him  three  horses,  he,  his  servant,  and  Captain  G.,  the 
new  convert,  set  out  for  Dublin.  'Eight  miles  travel  brought 
them  to  Kilrush,  Ireland.  Here  they  put  up  at  a  hotel  and 
found  Captain  Coc,  and  his  half-starved  crew,  who  had  come 
very  near  being  shipwrecked  the  past  night.  "At  our  first 
coming  into  our  inn,"  says  Whitefield,  "  we  kneeled  down  and 
prayed ;  and  again  at  night  we  sung  and  prayed  with  the  cap- 
tain and  several  of  our  shipmates." 

In  traveling  through  the  country,  he  was  much  struck  with 
the  poverty  and  habits  of  the  people.*  He  reached  Limerick 
Saturday,  the  19th,  and  was  veiy  kindly  received  by  Bishop 
Burscough,  who  engaged  him  to  preach  the  next  day.  He 
spoke  with  much  power,  "  for  all  the  inhabitants  seemed 
alarmed,"  he  says,  "  and  looked  most  wishfully  at  me  as  I 
passed  along  the  streets  the  next  day,  When  I  went  to  start 
away,  the  Bishop  kissed  me  and  said,  '  Mr.  Whitefield,  God 
bless  you.  I  wish  you  success  abroad.' "  At  Dublin  he  was 
most  kindly  received  by  Dr.  Delany,  and  invited  to  dine  with 
him.  Bishop  Rundell  and  Archbishop  Bolton,  Lord  Primate 
of  Ireland,  treated  him  with  similar  respect. 

*As  I  stopped  to  have  my  horses  shod,  I  went  into  one  of  the  poor  people's 
cabins.  It  was  about  twenty  feet  long  and  twelve  feet  wide,  and  built  with  turf 
and  mud.  In  it  was  a  man  threshing  corn,  two  swine  feeding,  two  dogs,  several 
geese,  a  man,  his  wife,  three  children,  and  a  great  fire.  Georgia  huts  are  a 
palace  to  it.  Indeed  the  people  live  very  poorly  in  these  parts,  and  some  walk 
barefooted  with  their  shoes  in  their  hands  to  save  them  from  wearing  out,  others 
uui  of  necijssily. — yonrtial. 


HIS    RETURN    TO    ENGLAND.  89 

Here  he  preached  twice  on  the  Sabbath  with  much  power. 
The  people  hung  upon  his  hps  to  hear  the  gospel.  "  Now 
God  begins  to  show  me,"  he  says,  "  why  He  so  visited 
me  in  the  ship.  Sweetest  Jesus,  give  me  humility,  and  I 
shall  yet  see  greater  things  than  these."  Look  out  for  them. 
In  viewing  the  busy  part  of  Dublin,  he  said,  "the  more  I  see 
of  the  world,  the  more  I  grow  sick  of  it  every  day." 

On  Thursday,  November  30,  after  near  twelve  months' 
absence  from  London,  and  three  months  from  Georgia,  he 
reached  Parkgate,  England,  filled  with  joy  and  comfort.  In 
passing  down  to  London  he  stopped  on  the  Sabbath,  December 
3,  and  preached  twice  at  Manchester,  and  reached  London 
about  noon,  on  the  eighth.  When  he  saw  his  friends  coming 
to  meet  him  on  the  way,  like  Paul  at  the  Three  Taverns,  "  he 
thanked  God  and  took  courage." 


\^ 


CHAPTER    X 


WHITEFIELD  S   NEW    MEASURES    IN    LONDON BREAKING 

THE    ICE    IN    BRISTOL. 

LTHOUGH  Whitefield  returned  to  London, 
fearing  "  the  fiery  trial  of  popularity,"  yet  be- 
lieving that  "  He  who  preserved  Daniel  in  the 
lions'  den"  would  preserve  him;  with  his 
soul  whet  up  by  the  trials  of  his  late  voyage,  he 
reached  London  December  8,  1738,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  labors  there  with  renewed  zeal. 
Received  with  much  joy  by  his  Christian 
friends,  he  joined  with  them  in  psalms  and  thanksgiving 
for  his  safe  arrival,  and  spent  the  evening  with  a  Religious 
Society  in  Fetter  Lane,  and  was  rejoiced  to  find  that  God  had 
greatly  watered  the  seed  he  had  sown  when  last  in  London. 
"  Here  seems,"  he  says,  "  to  be  a  great  out-pouring  of  the 
Spirit,  and  many  who  were  awakened  by  my  preaching  a  year 
ago  are  now  grown  strong  men  in  Christ  by  the  ministrations 
of  John  and  Charles  Wesley."  The  doctrine  of  Justification  by 
Faith,  he  found  much  revived. 

The  next  day  he  waited  upon  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, and  the  Bishop  of  London,  "  and  met  with  a  favorable 
reception  from  both."  But  in  the  clergy  he  found  an  opposi- 
tion so  great,  that  within  two  days  five  pulpits  were  shut  against 
him.  Yet  like  Paul,  "  he  rejoiced  in  this  opposition,"  and  re- 
garded it  as  a  prelude  to  greater  blessings. 

However,  he  preached  on   the    following   Sabbath   at  St. 

Helens  in  the  morning,  and  at  Islington  in  the  afternoon,  to 

(90) 


WHITEFIELDS    NEW    MEASURES    IN    LONDON.  9I 

very  large  congregations,  with  great  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit ;  and,  by  the  twelfth,  John  Wesley  came  to  see  him  ;  and 
again  "they  took  sweet  counsel  together." 

While  some  bury  their  talents,  others  live  and  die  with  them 
half  developed.  Although  Whitefield  had  "  stirred  all  Lon- 
don "  and  achieved  great  spiritual  victories  before  he  went  to 
America,  yet  it  was  not  till  after  his  return  to  London  that 
his  great  strength  was  more  fully  developed.  It  was  there, 
while  waiting  on  the  Lord,  expounding,  watching  and  praying 
in  the  small  Religious  Societies,  that  he  seemed  to  receive 
fresh  power  from  on  high.  On  Christmas  morning,  after 
spending  the  whole  night  in  prayer,  he  says,  ''  God  vouchsafed 
so  to  fill  me  with  His  blessed  Spirit  that  I  spoke  with  super- 
natural strength,  and  with  as  great  power  as  ever  I  did  in  my 
life."  And  it  was  here,  in  Red  Cross  street,  when  filled  with 
jo}'  and  peace,  that  he,  for  the  first  time,  in  public,  ventured  to 
pray  extempore.  Although  the  clergy  treated  him  coolly  and 
shut  their  churches  against  him,  yet  none  of  these  things  moved 
him ;  and  constrained  by  a  Saviour's  love,  they  went  on  with 
these  meetings  until  the  close  of  the  year,  when  Whitefield  was 
so  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  the  divine  presence,  that  he 
exclaimed,  "Glory  be  to  God,  He  fills  me  continually  with 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."  "On  New  Year's  night," 
(1739)  .says  John  Wesley,  "Messrs  Hall,  Kinchin,  Ingham, 
Whitefield,  Hutchins,  and  my  brother  Charles,  were  present  at 
a  love-feast,  with  about  sixty  of  our  brethren.  About  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  we  were  continuing  instant  in  prayer, 
the  power  of  God  came  mightily  upon  us,  insomuch  that  many 
cried  out  for  exceeding  joy,  and  many  fell  to  the  ground.  As 
soon  as  we  were  recovered  a  little  from  that  awe  and  amaze- 
ment at  the  presence  of  His  majesty,  we  broke  out  with  one 
voice,  'We  prcdse  Thee,  0  God ;  we  acknowledge  Thee  to  be  the 


92  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

J  Mid' "  And  says  Whitefield,  "  It  was  the  happiest  New  Year's 
day  I  ever  saw.  It  was  a  Pentecostal  season,  indeed."  "  Some- 
times," in  these  meetings,  "  whole  nights  were  spent  in  prayer. 
Often  have  we  been  filled  as  with  new  wine,  and  often  have  I 
seen  them  overwhelmed  with  the  divine  presence,  and  crying 
out,  '  Will  God,  indeed,  dwell  with  men  upon  earth !  How 
dreadful  is  this  place !  This  is  none  other  than  the  house  of 
God  and  the  gate  of  Heaven  !"  In  this  way,  endued  afresh 
with  power  from  on  high,  did  the  three  great  evangelists, 
Whitefield,  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  begin  together  the  mem- 
orable year  which  has  since  been  recognized  as  "the  epoch  of 
Methodism" 

During  the  last  week  of  1738,  he  preached  and  lectured 
twenty-seven  times ;  and  the  Word  being  quick  and  powerful, 
"  many  were  pricked  to  the  heart,"  and  there  was  no  end  of 
people's  coming  to  him  crying,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?" 

Thus  laboring  alternately  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  social 
prayer  meeting,  he  went  on  from  strength  to  strength,  until 
he  was  so  richly  blessed  that  he  said,  "  My  heart  is  full  of 
God."  Encouraged  with  these  precious  revivings,  on  January 
5,  1739,  at  Islington,  he  held  a  Conference  with  seven  Metho- 
dist ministers  from  different  parts,  about  several  important  mat- 
ters concerning  their  work.  "  What  we  were  in  doubt  about, 
after  prayer,  we  determined  by  lot,  and  everything  else  was 
carried  on  with  great  love,  meekness  and  devotion.  We  con- 
tinued in  fasting  and  prayer  till  three  o'clock,  and  then  parted 
with  a  full  conviction  that  God  was  going  to  do  great  things 
among  us." 

And  now,  with  his  spiritual  strength  renewed,  and  being  con- 
tinually "  on  the  stretch  for  God,"  he  says,  "  The  spirit  of  suppli- 
cation increases  in  my  heart  daily."  "  My  understanding  is 
more  enlightened,  my  affections  more  inflamed,  and  with  my 


WHITEFIELD's    new    measures    in    LONDON.  93 

heart  full  of  love  towards  God  and  man,  blessed  be  God,  I  can 
say  I  love  my  enemies."  And  being  conscious  of  the  advan- 
tages "of  expounding  and  praying  extempore','  he  prayed  God 
to  enable  him  to  continue  it.  Besides  tending  the  prayer 
meetings  and  the  love  feasts,  Mr.  Whitefield  also  frequently 
met  with  the  Little  Praying  "  Bands"  of  six  or  more  Christians, 
who  met  to  compare  and  talk  over  their  religious  experiences. 
Having  thus  kindled  the  fire  in  London,  Mr.  Whitefield 
went  to  Oxford.  After  visiting  his  old  friends,  and  after  much 
prayerful  preparation,  he  was  there  ordai7ted  priest  ]dinns.vy  14, 
1739,  in  Christ's  church,  by  "his  good  friend,  Bishop  Benson," 
who  had  formerly  ordained  him  deacon.  The  same  day  he 
preached  and  administered  the  Sacrament  in  the  Castle  in  the 
morning,  and  preached  again  at  St.  Albans  in  the  afternoon,  to  a 
crowded  house,  surrounded  by  gownsmen  of  all  degrees.  And 
r-.'joicing  in  the  Lord,  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God,  this  has 
been  a  day  of  fat  things."  Taking  an  affectionate  leave  of 
his  dear  Oxford  friends,  he  now  returned  to  London,  and 
ivas  very  kindly  received  by  the  Georgia  Trustees,  who, 
>vithout  his  request,  "presented  him  the  living  at  Savannah," 
and  gave  him  500  acres  of  land  for  his  Orphan-  House. 
The  London  clergy  now  began  to  oppose,  and  shut  their 
churches  against  him.*  The  pulpit  and  press  rung  with 
opposition.  But  Whitefield  took  it  so  patiently  he  even 
"  prayed  by  name"  publicly  for  the  minister  who  wrote 
against  him,  and  longed  "to  do  him  any  good."     "Blessed  be 

*  The  occasion  of  this  opposition  may  lie  traced  to  two  causes — doc/niws  and 
measures.  Besides  the  then  common  objection  to  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  Regen- 
eration and  Justification  by  Faith,  Whitefield's  and  Wesley's  prolonged  midnight 
prayer  meetings,  and  their  expounding  and  visiting  from  house ,to  house,  led  many 
of  the  clerg)'  to  deny  them  their  pidpits.  Private  societies  and  extempore  prayer 
were  much  ■(bjccled  to. 


94  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

God,"  he  said,  "the  more  I  am  opposed  the  more  God  enlight- 
ens my  understanding.  The  more  man  frowns,  the  more  God 
smiles." 

Having  on  Christmas  day  prayed  publicly  for  the  first  time 
ivithout  a  form,  to-day  (February  2d)  he  preached  the  first  ti?ne 
without  notes.  It  was  at  a  communion  at  Islington.  They 
said,  "  He  preached  with  uncommon  power."  He  says,  "I  find 
I  gain  greater  light  and  knowledge  by  preaching  extempore,  so 
that  I  fear  I  should  quench  the  Spirit,  did  I  not  go  on  to  speak 
as  He  gives  me  utterance."  After  "preaching  extempore  again 
with  great  freedom,"  he  felt  so  exceedingly  happy,  he  says, 
"  God  gives  me  a  heaven  upon  earth,  and  makes  my  heart  leap 
for  joy  almost  continually."  Notwithstanding  Mr.  Whitefield's 
superabundant  labors  and  unspeakable  joy,  he  says,  "  Some- 
times my  strength  goes  from  me,  and  I  find  myself  deserted  for 
a  little  while  and  much  oppressed,  especially  before  preaching, 
but  comfort  soon  after  flows  in."  "  /  fiiid  action  is  the  best 
way  to  take  all  oppression  off'  the  spirits."  "  God  zvi/l  bless  us 
when  doing  His  work." 

Thus  he  went  on,  preaching  and  expounding"  amidst  in- 
creasing opposition,  until  his  burning  unquenchable  desire  to 
preach  the  gospel  rose  to  such  a  height,  that,  like  the  flaming 
Peter  and  John,  he  exclaimed,  "/  cannot  hut  speak  the  things 
that  I  have  seen  and  felt  in  my  own  soul."  And  having 
preached  one  day  in  a  Hotel,  in  Basingstoke,  he  said,  "  I  hope 
I  shall  learn  more  and  more  every  day,  that  no  place  is  amiss 
for  preaching  the  gospel."  "  God  forbid  that  the  word  of  God 
should  be  bound,  because  some,  out  of  misguided  zeal,  deny 
the  use  of  their  churches."  "  The  more  I  am  bid  to  hold  my 
peace,  the  more  earnestly  will  I  lift  up  my  voice  like  a 
trumpet."  Yet  with  all  his  glorious  attainments  and  precious 
enjoyments,  with  his  lofty  views  of  holiness,  zeal  and  self-denial, 


whitefield's  ni:\v  m [.azures  in  London.  95 

he  says,  "  We  are  just  bcgiiniing  to  he  Cliristiaiisy  "  Lord, 
melt  down  my  frozen  heart  witli  a  sense  of  Thy  unmerited 
love." 

Blest  with  "  many  conversions  "  in  London,  Whitefield  now 
visited  Windsor,  Basingstoke,  and  Dummer.  And  glorying  in 
tribulation,  he  says,  "  I  find  opposition  does  me  much  good,  for 
it  drives  me  nearer  to  my  Lord  and  Master."  At  Basingstoke, 
he  spoke  with  such  irresistible  power  that  his  opposers  were 
quite  struck  dumb,  and  so  confounded,  that  they  said,  "  We  will 
never  oppose  again."  Here  he  was  "  filled  with  ineffable  com- 
fort and  unspeakable  joy." 

Taking  suddenly  ill  the  next  day,  he  says,  "  It  would  have 
melted  any  one  down  to  have  seen  my  dear  friends  weeping  and 
praying  around  me."  Struggling  like  one  in  the  agonies  of 
death,  like  the  heroic  Paul,  he  exclaimed,  "  O  how  I  longed  to 
be  dissolved  and  be  with  Christ !"  And  rejoicing  in  his  inex- 
pressible comforts,  he  says,  "  Wherever  I  go  God  causeth  me  to 
triumph  and  knits  the  hearts  of  His  people  most  closely  to  me." 

Having  "  set  the  town  on  fire,  he  now  went  to  kindle  a 
(lame  in  the  country."  And  prayed,  "  Oh,  that  such  a  fire  may 
not  only  be  kindled,  but  blow  up  into  a  flame  all  England,  and 
all  tlie  world  over." 

Shortly  after  Whitefield  came  to  Bristol,  the  Chancellor 
of  Bristol  charged  him  with  preacfijng  false  doctrine  and 
threatened  to  suspend  and  excommunicate  him.  But  awed  by 
no  threats,  Whitefield  replied,  "  I  cannot  but  speak  the  things 
that  I  know,"  and  resolved  to  proceed  as  usual.  After  praying 
for  the  tyrannical  Chancellor,  he  went  on  and  preached  with 
unusual  power  and  unspeakable  joy. 

FIELD    PREACHING. 

And  just  here  let  us  pause  a  moment  and  see  how,  step  by 
stc[),  the  bold   evangelist  overstc-pped  the  rules  of  the  Estab- 


QO  LIFE    OK    WiilTKFIEI.D. 

lished  Church  and  rose  to  his  present  lofty  position  of  influence 
power  and  success. 

Having  preached  one  day  at  Bermondsey  church,  with 
great  liberty  to  a  crowded  congregation,  with  near  i,ooo 
people  standing  outside,  he  says,  "  I  had  a  strong  inclination  to 
go  out  and  preach  to  them  from  one  of  the  tomb-stones.  This 
first  put  me  upon  thinking  of  preaching  out-doors.  I  men- 
tioned it  to  some  friends,  who  looked  upon  it  as  'a  mad  notion' 
However,  we  knelt  down  and  prayed  that  nothing  might  be 
done  rashly."  Having  already  learned  to  pray  without  a  form, 
and  to  preach  without  notes,  he  now  ventured  another  step, 
and  preached  without  a  church. 

Denied  a  church  to  preach  in  at  Bath,  he  soon  went  to 
Bristol.  And  finding  all  the  Bristol  churches  shut  against  him, 
moved  with  a  bleeding  compassion  for  the  poor,  neglected  col- 
liers of  Kingswood,  a  large  mining  district  hard  by,  he  went 
out  to  see  them.  Though  poor  and  uncultivated,  they  received 
him  very  kindly.  Earnestly  longing  for  their  salvation,  and 
urged  by  the  great  emergency  of  the  case,  on  February  17, 
1739,  he  went  out  without  any  previous  notice,  to  a  "mount," 
called  "Rose  Green''  and  preached  to  upwards  of  two  hundred 
of  them,  on  Regeneration,  from  John  iii.  3.  This  was  White- 
field's  first  field  sermon.  He  says,  "We  returned  full  of  joy,  and 
I  believe  I  never  was  more  acceptable  to  my  Master  than  when 
I  was  preaching  to  those  hearers  in  the  open  fields."  Filled 
with  joy  and  gratitude  to  God  for  thus  having  broken  "the 
iron  decorum  of  the  church,"  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God 
that  T  have  now  broken  the  ice  and  taken  the  field."  He  said,  "I 
thought  it  might  be  doing  the  service  of  my  Creator,  who  had  a 
mountain  for  a  pulpit,  and  the  heavens  for  a  sounding  board ; 
and  who,  when  His  gospel  was  refused  by  the  Jews,  sent  His 
servants  into  the  highways  and  hedges."     Strengthened  by  this 


S       i\ 


<^ 


WHITEFIEI.d's    NF.\^    measures    in    LONDON.  97 

noble  act,  he  preached  the  next  day  at  St.  Mary's  to  such  a 
congregation  as  he  never  saw,  with  great  hberty  and  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit.  "  Some  may  censure  me.  But  is  there 
not  a  cause  ?  Pulpits  are  denied  and  the  poor  colhers  ready  to 
perish  for  the  lack  of  knowledge."  His  first  field  congregation 
numbered  over  200,  the  second  nearly  2,000,  the  third  5,000 
and  it  soon  reached  from  10,000  to  20,000.  Tlie  Rubicon  Is 
passed.  The  crisis  is  met — a  glorious  victoiy  is  achieved,  and 
ficld-preachlng,  "  the  morning  star  of  England's  second  refor- 
mation," is  made  a  complete  success.  With  it,  a  nezu  era 
dawned  upon  the  church,  and  "the  poor  have  the  gospel 
preached  to  them;"  and  the  poor  colliers  heard  it  for  the  first 
time  with  surprise  and  joy.  Although  driven  out  of  the 
churches,  Whitefield,  by  the  magic  power  of  his  eloquence, 
evidently  took  possession  of  the  people.  The  clergy  frowned, 
but  God  smiled  upon  the  effort,  and  to  muzzle  the  bold  evan- 
gelist was  impossible.  Gagged  in  the  city  he  fled  to  the 
country. 

All  ablaze  with  zeal  to  save  souls  and  to  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  poor,  for  him  to  be  kept  silent  was  more  intolerable  than 
death  itself  He  could  not  endure  it.  Dead  to  self,  and  con- 
secrated to  God,  rising  above  the  fear  of  man,  the  threat  of 
excommunication,  and  the  iron  bondage  of  church  forms  and 
customs,  he  went  forth  and  preached  to  acres  of  perishing 
colliers  in  the  open  air,  disregarding  what  the  world  might  say 
or  the  church  might  think  or  do;  while  John  Wesley,  with 
less  courage  and  more  tenacity  for  church  order  and  pro- 
fessional etiquette,  hesitated  and  said,  "  I  should  have  thought 
the  saving  of  souls  almost  a  sin,  if  it  had  not  been  done  in  a 
church." 

Having  been  forbidden  by  the  Bishop  of  Bristol  to  preach 
in  his  diocese,  upon  the  threat  of  excommunication,  we  re- 
7 


98  Life  of  wiiitf.fielD. 

gard  Whitefield's  "  taking  the  field,"  though  counted  "  a  mad 
notion"  at  first,  the  boldest  and  one  of  the  most  important 
acts  of  his  life. 

Rejoicing  in  the  work  he  says,  "  Blessed  be  God,  the 
fire  is  kindled  in  the  country  ;  and  I  know  all  the  devils  in 
hell  shall  not  be  able  to  put  it  out."  It  opened  a  wide  door  for 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  poor.  The  stroke  that  "  broke  the 
ice,"  did  much  to  break  down  Satan's  kingdom,  and  to  save  the 
churches  of  Europe  and  America. 

The  moral  condition  of  these  colliers  was  but  little  above 
heathenism,  and  "  when  provoked  they  were  a  terror  to  the 
city  of  Bristol."  It  was  considered  dangerous  to  go  among 
them.  They  were  very  much  neglected.  "And,"  says  Black- 
wood's Magazine^  "  they  were  proverbial  for  their  savage  char- 
acter and  brutality.  They  had  no  place  of  v/orship  near  them, 
and  nobody  so  much  as  dreamt  of  inquiring  whether  by 
chance  they  too  might  have  souls  to  be  saved."  They  lived 
altogether  at  "  Hannarn  Mount,"  three  miles  from  Bristol. 
Here  Whitefield  often  preached  to  them  with  great  power. 
"And  O,  with  what  gladness  and  eagerness  many  of  them  re- 
ceived the  Word,  is  beyond  description."  The  first  discovery 
of  their  being  affected  was  to  see  ''the  wJiite gutters','  made  by 
their  tears,  which  plentifully  fell  down  their  black  cheeks,  as 
they  came  out  of  their  coal  pits.  "As  the  scene  was  quite  new, 
and  as  I  had  just  begun  to  be  an  exteinpore  preacher,  it  often 
occasioned  many  inward  conflicts.  Sometimes,  when  twenty 
thousand  people  were  before  me,  I  had  not,  in  my  own  appre- 
hension, a  word  to  say,  either  to  God  or  them.  But  I  was  never 
totally  deserted,  and  frequently  (for  to  deny  it  would  be  lying 
against  God)  so  assisted,  that  I  knew,  by  happy  experience,  what 
our  Lord  meant  by  saying,  'out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of 
living  water.'     The  open  firmament  above  me,  the  prospect  of 


WHITEFIELDS    NEW    MEASURES    IN    LONDON.  99 

the  adjacent  fields,  with  the  sight  of  thousands  and  thousands, 
some  in  coaches,  some  on  horse-back,  and  some  in  the  trees, 
and  at  times  all  affected  and  drenched  in  tears  together,  to 
which  sometimes  was  added  the  solemnity  of  the  approaching 
evening,  was  almost  too  much  for,  and  quite  overcame  me." 
Wrought  up  to  a  white-heat  zeal,  Whitefield  never  preached 
with  greater  power  than  now.  "  He  was  carried  out  beyond 
himself"  And  having  thus  opened  such  a  wide,  effectual  door 
for  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  he  now  sent  for  John 
Wesley,  to  come  down  and  help  him.  He  came  the  last  of 
March.  Upon  seeing  Whitefield's  grand  success,  he  longed  to 
"  take  the  field "  and  help  him.  But,  bound  by  "  the  iron 
decorum  of  the  church,"  "  at  this  grand  crisis,  the  most  impor- 
tant in  his  life,"  he  was  afraid  and  hesitated.  But  after  a  hard 
struggle,  and  seeing  the  dauntless  Whitefield  preach  with  such 
wonderful  power  to  vast  acres  of  gaping  colliers  at  "  Boling 
Green,"  "  Hannam  Mount,"  and  "  Rose  Green,"  his  prejudices 
gave  way,  and  he  went,  "  took  the  field,"  and  preached  with 
great  power.  To  this  important  event,  Wesley  owed  much  of 
his  future  success.  And  in  it  we  see  to  some  extent  how  much 
he  was  indebted  to  Whitefield  for  it.  Whitefield  broke  the 
way,  and  Wesley  followed  him. 

"Standing  still  as  death,  sometimes  with  over  20,000  collected 
around  the  little  hill,  a  thrill  of  emotion  ran  through  the  vast 
crowd.  They  wept  aloud  together  over  their  sins,  and  sang 
together  with  that  wonderful  voice  of  a  multitude  which  has 
something  in  it  more  impressive  than  any  music."  This  was 
the  first  outburst  of  the  new  light  upon  the  outer  world. 
Hitherto  it  had  been  limited,  shining,  as  it  were,  under  ground 
in  obscure  corners  where  a  pulpit  could  be  found.  In  this 
grand  movement,  Whitefield  acted  as  Wesley's  pioneer^  and 
''began  with  a  kind  of  splendid  inadvertence,  his  greatest  efforts. 


100  LIFE    OF    WlinrFIELD. 

Whitefield  went  forth  in  quaint  evangelical  siniplicit}-,  and 
did  what  his  hand  found  to  do,  caring  no  more  for  his  char- 
acter or  standing  than  had  he  possessed  neither."  {Blackwood^ 
Rf^-'ilting  in  the  conversion  of  thousands,  this  out-door  effort 
A\  ,  doubtless,  the  greatest  gospel  victory  since  the  Day  of 
renlecost. 

GETTING    STRENGTH    IN    THE    PRAYER-MEETING. 

Whitefield  was  pre-eminently  a  man  of  prayer.  He  loved 
the  prayer-meeting.  It  was  his  heart's  delight.  He  often 
spent  whole  nights  in  prayer.  And  although  his  success  was 
owing  greatly  to  his  great  powers  of  eloquence,  yet  it  was 
owing  more,  perhaps,  to  his  prayers,  and  his  attending  prayer- 
meetings.  Where  was  he  when  his  heart  became  so  full  that 
he  had  to  break  over  and  lay  aside  the  Prayer  Book,  and  rush 
to  the  throne  of  grace  and  pray  as  "  the  Spirit  gave  him 
utterance  ?"  He  was  in  the  prayer-meeting,  where  he  had 
been  praying  all  night,  in  Red  Cross  street,  London.  Where 
was  he,  the  Wesleys  and  others,  "when  the  power  of  God  came 
so  mightily  upon  them  that  many  fell  to  the  ground  and  cried 
out  for  exceeding  joy?"  They  were  at  a  prayer-meeting  and 
love-feast  at  Fetter  Lane,  London,  "  where  they  had  spent  the 
whole  of  New  Year's  eve  in  close  prayer,  praise  and  thanksgiv- 
ing." Whitefield  .said  this  "  was  the  happiest  New  Year's  Day 
he  ever  saw."  Praying  and  preaching  he  thus  went  on  "  from 
strength  to  strength,"  until  he  made  the  bold  strike  at  Kings- 
wood,  and  achieved  the  glorious  victory  of  field-preaching  at 
"Rose  Green." 

"  These  prayer-meetings,"  says  Dr.  Philip,  "  were  to  White- 
field  what  the  '  third  heavens  '  were  to  Paul ;  the  finishing 
school  of  his  ministerial  education — the  school  of  his  Spirit. 
He  was  as  much  indebted  to  them  for  his  unction  and  enter- 


WHITEI'^IELD's    new    IM1:ASURES    in    LONDON.  lOI 

prise,  as  to  Pembroke  College  for  his  learning."  Here  he  .says 
"I  found  supernatural  strength  and  expounded  with  extraordi- 
nary power."  "  Here  he  caught  the  holy  and  heroic  impulse 
which  prepared  him  to  challenge  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  any- 
where, 'and  to  warn  them  and  sinners  everywhere,  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come.'  "  Here,  we  believe,  he  caught  the  holy 
fire  and  received  that  mighty  lieroic  impulse  which  made  him 
so  mighty  through  God,  in  pulling  down  Satan's  strongholds. 
Here  he  says,  "  God  gives  me  heaven  upon  earth,  and  makes 
my  heart  leap  for  joy  almost  continually.  Here  have  I  often 
seen  them  overwhelmed  with  the  divine  presence ;  and  crying 
out,  "Will  God  indeed  dwell  with  men  upon  the  earth?  How 
dreadful  is  this  place !  This  is  no  other  than  the  house  of  God 
and  the  gate  of  heaven."  It  was  not  till  after  Wesley  ex- 
pounded in  one  of  these  meetings,  that  he  overcame  his  scruples 
and  ventured  to  preach  in  "the  field."  "  God  often  hangs  the 
greatest  weights  on  the  smallest  wires."  And  says  Dr.  Philip, 
"  vSocial  prayer-meetings  are  the  strongest  wires  in  all  the 
machinery  of  the  moral  universe.  '  God  hung  upon  them  all 
the  weighty  gifts  and  all  the  weightier  grace  and  glory  of  Pen- 
tecost' " 

Where,  we  ask,  was  John  Livingstone  just  before  he 
preached  that  memorable  sermon  at  the  Shotts,  in  Scotland, 
which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  five  hundred  souls  ?  He 
had  spent  the  whole  of  the  previous  night  in  a  prayer-meeting ; 
and  where,  too,  was  the  Apostle  Peter,  before  he  preached  that 
most  powerful  sermon  on  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  which  made 
the  very  murderers  of  Jesus  cry  for  mercy,  and  which  resulted 
in  the  conversion  of  Three  Thousand  souls  in  a  day.  He  had 
just  come  out  of  a  ten  days'  prayer-meeting.  Reader,  if  you 
want  to  get  power  to  win  souls,  pray  much  and  linger  long  in 
the  prayer-meeting. 


I02  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

Besides  Whitefield's  new  measures,  extempore  prayer, 
preaching  without  notes,  and  preachmg  in  the  fields,  he  also 
preached  new  doctrines ;  or  rather  revived  the  two  old  doc- 
trines of  Regeneration  and  jPnstification  by  Faith.  Preaching 
these,  he  met  with  much  strong,  fierce  opposition.  Yet  with 
his  great  heart  throbbing  for  souls  and  fired  with  these  stirring 
old  doctrines,  he  went  forth,  "  alarmed  all  London,"  shook  the 
devil's  throne,  and  revived  the  slumbering  churches  of  two  con- 
tinents. 


CHAPTER     XI. 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND- 
VICTORIES. 


-GREAT    FIELD 


'lushed  with  victory,  and  established  in  his 
New  Measures  and  New  Doctrines,  Whitefield 
now  went  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer. 
His  success  among  the  colliers  was  wonderful. 
Every  effort  was  crowned  with  victory.  On 
March  4,  1739,  he  preached  at  Hannam  Mount, 
to  about  4000  in  the  morning,  and  to  over  14,000 
at  Rose  Green  in  the  afternoon.  With  his  soul 
expanding,  he  spoke  v/ith  great  power,  "  so  that  all  could  hear." 
The  sight  was  so  grand,  he  said,  "it  was  worth  coming  many 
miles  to  see  it."  After  expounding  to  the  Baldwin  Street 
Society,  he  returned  home  "full  of  joy,  longing  to  depart  and 
be  with  Christ."  After  preaching  from  a  'wall  at  the 
Fishponds,  he  says,  "I  never  spoke  with  greater  power.  My 
preaching  in  the  fields  may  displease  some  timorous,  bigoted 
men,  but  I  am  thoroughly  persuaded  it  pleases  God;  and  why 
should  I  fear  anything  else."  Deeply  impressed,  many  came  "^ 
to  him,  inquiring  about  the  new  birth. 

Having  canvassed  Kingswood,  he  ran  over  to  Wales,  and 
preached  in  the  Town  Hall  of  Cardiff!  Here  some  "scoffers 
honored  him  so  far  as  to  trail  and  hunt  a  dead  fox  about  the 
hall"  while  he  was  preaching.  But  God  gave  him  strength  to  ^ 
triumph  6ver  them,  and  when  he  preached  again  in  the  after* 
noon  they  kept  silent. 

(103) 


I04  LIFE   OF   WIITTKFIELD. 

At  Cardiff  Whitefleld  was  much  refreshed  with  the  sic^ht  of 
his  dear  friend,  Howel  Harris,  whom  he  had  long  since  loved 
as  a  dear  brother.  "When  I  first  saw  him,"  says  Whitefield, 
"my  heart  was  knit  closely  to  him.  I  wanted  to  Catch  some 
of  his  fire,  and  I  gave  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  with 
all  my  heart."  Being  so  very  happy  together,  "I  doubt  not 
but  Satan  envied  our  happiness.  But  I  hope,  by  the  help 
of  God,  we  shall  make  his  kingdom  shake." 

"Baptized  with  Welsh  fire,"  he  now  returned  to  England, 
and  resumed  preaching  to  the  poor  colliers  of  Kingswood  with 
increased  interest  and  enlarged  congregations.  "Being  forbid 
to  preach  in  the  prison,  because  he  urged  the  necessity  of 
Regeneration,  he  went  and  preached  to  a  large  congregation  at 
Baptist  Mills,  and  exclaimed,  "Blessed  be  God,  all  things 
happen  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.  I  now  preach  to  ten 
times  more  people  than  I  should,  if  I  had  been  confined  to 
the  churches.  Surely  the  devil  is  blind  and  so  ai'c  his 
emissaries,  or  otherwise  they  would  not  thus  confound  them- 
selves." Although  he  was  now  encompassed  with  opposition, 
yet,  with  a  deep  sense  of  God's  presence,  he  said,  "I  fear 
neither  men  nor  devils.  I  am  never  so  much  assisted  as  when 
persons  endeavor  to  blacken  me ;  and  I  find  the  number 
of  my  hearers  so  increase  by  opposition,  as  well  as  my  own 
inward  peace,  love  and  joy,  that  I  ovXy  fear  a  calm!' 

And,  gathering  up  his  strength,  he  went  (March  i8)  and 
preached  for  an  hour  and  a  half  to  a  congregation  of  20,000 
colliers  at  Rose  Green.  "To  see,"  he  says,  "such  vast  crowds 
standing  about  us  in  such  an  awful  silence,  and  to  hear  the 
echo  of  their  singing  run  from  one  end  of  them  to  the  other, 
was  very  solemn  and  surprising."  The  day's  collection  for  the 
Orphan  House  was  over  fourteen  pounds  sterling.  They  gave 
with  c^rcat  cheerfulness. 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND.  IO$ 


SCOFFERS    PRAYED    TO    SILENCE. 


Whitefield  now  made  a  short  visit  to  BatJi.  As  he  went 
out  to  preach  there,  a  number  of  scoffers  laughed  him  to  scorn. 
But  his  opening  prayer  was  so  touching  and  powerful  that 
before  he  closed  "all  was  hushed  and  silent;"  and  before  he 
closed  his  sermon  all  were  deeply  impressed,  and  some  went 
home  begging  for  mercy.  Of  his  last  congregation  he  says, 
"God  only  can  tell  how  their  hearts  were  melted  down.  Oh! 
how  did  the  poor  st)uls  weep  over  me!  I  might  have  said  with 
St.  F\'uil,  on  another  occasion,  'What  mean  you  to  weep  and  to 
break  my  heart?'"  How  powerful  is  God's  word!  "It  is  like 
fire  and  a  hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces."  It  was 
so  of  old.  The  Jews  mocked  at  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  but 
under  the  preaching  of  Peter,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  they 
vehemently  cried  what  to  do  to  be  saved.  A  man  once  went 
to  church  with  a  stone  in  his  pocket,  to  break  John  Wesley's 
head,  but  his  sermon  broke  the  man's  heart. 

After  a  weeping  farewell  at  Bath,  he  was  agreeably  surprised 
to  see  so  many  horsemen  come  out  so  far  to  welcome  him 
back  to  Bri.stol.  Here  he  found  the  societies  so  thronged  that 
"he  was  obliged  to  go  up  by  a  ladder  and  go  in  at  a  window 
to  get  to  them."  Here,  too,  he  preached  at  the  poor  house, 
and  says,  "The  poor  people  so  loaded  my  hat  with  their  mites 
that  I  needed  some  one  to  hold  up  my  hands."  "They  gave 
with  inexpressible  cheerfulness."  Being  denied  the  prison,  he 
preached  the  following  Sabbath  morning  at  a  large  Boling- 
green  in  the  city,  and  again  before  dinner  at  Hannam  Mount 
to  many  more,  and  again  in  the  afternoon  to  a  congregation  of 
about  23,000.  All  could  hear,  and  his  prayer  was,  "Oh,  may 
God  speak  to  them  by  His  Spirit." 

He  preached  at  Boling  Green  again,  the  next  day,  to  some 


I06  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

7,000,  with  a  wonderful  effect.  Standing  at  the  gate  he  took 
up  another  collection  for  the  Orphan  House,  and  it  took  him 
near  an  hour  and  a  half  "to  get  through."  The  throng  was 
so  great,  they  trod  one  upon  one  another. 

In  summing  up  the  fruits  of  his  labors  at  Kingswood  and 
Bristol,  he  says,  "Many  sinners,  I  believe,  have  been  effectually 
converted.  Two  hundred  pounds  have  been  collected  for  the 
Orphan  House.  Thousands  of  little  books  have  been  distri- 
buted; and,  besides  hosts  of  little  tokens  of  love  received  from 
my  friends,  many  poor  families  have  been  relieved  by  my 
friend,  Mr.  Seward." 

Mr.  John  Wesley,  having  come  and  "taken  the  field,"  Mr. 
Whitefield,  after  taking  a  very  affectionate  leave  of  his  Bristol 
friends,  now  made  another  short  excursion  into  Wales.  As  he 
left  the  city,  "  the  people  lavishly  poured  out  their  blessings 
upon  him,"  and  "  he  prayed  for  them  ^with  strong  crying  and 
tears."  Ashe  went  through  Kingswood,  the  kind  colliers  gave 
him  a  great  dinner,  and  at  their  request "  he  laid  \h&  Jirst  stone  of 
their  School  House,  knelt  down  on  it,  and  prayed  that  the 
gates  of  hell  might  not  prevail  against  it."  The  colliers  "  said 
a  hearty  amen."  At  Husk  he  met  Howel  Harris,  who  accom- 
panied him  in  his  tour.  They  preached  out  doors  at  Ponty- 
pool,  Abergaveny,  Comiboy,  Carlion,  Trelix,  and  Newport,  to 
very  large  congregations.  Whitefield  spoke  first  in  English, 
and  Harris  followed  in  Welsh.  The  impression  was  fine. 
Whitefield  loved  field-preaching  and  said,  "  I  always  find  I  have 
most  power  when  I  speak  in  the  open  air."  Accompanied 
with  scores  of  friends  on  horseback,  he  went  about  from  place 
to  place,  preaching  on  "the  steps,"  "on  the  table,"  from  "the 
cross,"  and  from  "the  horse-block,"  and  sometimes  "  God  gave 
him  such  e*xtraordinary  assistance,  he  was  carried  out  beyond 
himself,  and  filled  with  unutterable  love."     At  Carbeon,  where 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND,  IO7 

they  greatly  disturbed  Howel  Harris,  Whitefield  "preached  to 
many  thousands  "  with  such  great  power,  that  "  they  moved 
not  a  tongue." 

Following  up  the  great  preacher,  we  find  him,  April  9th, 
preaching  again  to  a  very  large  congregation  in  Gloucester,  his 
native  city.  And  after  visiting  the  societies  in  the  evening,  he 
exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what  unspeakable  pleasure  it  affords  me  to  see 
my  own  townsmen  receive  the  Word  with  joy!"  Here  he 
found  many  of  all  denominations  leaving  the  church,  he  said, 
"because  they  could  not  find  food  for  their  souls;  they  staid 
amongst  us  till  they  were  starved  out."  "  I  know  this  declara- 
tion will  expose  me  to  the  ill-will  of  all  my  indolent,  earthly- 
minded,  pleasure-taking  brethren ;  but  were  I  not  to  speak,  the 
very  stones  would  cry  out  against  them.  Speak,  therefore,  I 
must  and  will,  and  will  not  spare."  After  visiting  two  crowded 
societies,  he  said,  "To-day  I  felt  such  an  intense  love,  that  I  could 
have  almost  wished  myself  accursed  for  my  brethren  according 
to  the  flesh."  Laboring  alternately  in  the  city  and  in  the  coun- 
try, he  frequently  preached  in  Boothall  to  congregations  of 
about  5,000  "  with  extraordinary  power."  And  with  his  heart 
greatly  enlarged,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh  that  I  had  a  thousand 
tongues  to  praise  my  Maker.  There  is  scarce  a  day  passes 
over  my  head,  but  God  shows  me  that  He  works  effectually 
upon  the  hearts  of  many  by  my  ministry."  One  day  he 
traveled  through  the  rain  to  Stonehouse,  and  preached  to  about 
3,000  out  doors,  in  the  rain.  It  rained  all  the  time,  but  the 
people  were  so  deeply  interested,  not  one  left  during  the  ser- 
vice. After  baptizing  an  old  Quaker  in  Gloucester,  he  gave 
them  a  weeping  farewell  sermon  on  Boothall  to  a  very 
thronged  congregation.  "  But  oh,"  he  said,  "what  love  did  the 
people  express  for  me!  How  many  came  to  me  weeping,  and 
telline  me  what  God  had  done  for  their  souls !     I  dared  not 


I08  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

expect  such  success  among-  my  own  countrymen."  "  Oh,  how 
did  tliey  pray  for  my  return  amongst  them  !"* 

After  leaving  Gloucester,  upon  approaching  Cheltenham  to 
fill  an  appointment,  he  says,  "  When  I  first  came  to  town  I 
found  myself  quite  shut  up.  My  heart  and  head  were  dead  as 
a  stone;  but  when  I  came  to  the  inn,  ni)'  soul  began  to  enlarge, 
and  I  was  enabled  to  preach  with  extraordinaiy  power,  to  near 
2000  people.  Many  were  converted.  One  was  drowned  in 
tears,  and  some  were  so  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  they 
were  almost  unable  to  endure  it." 

"Pressed  in  Spirit,"  April  21,  he  hastened  to  Oxford,  and 
was  much  shocked  to  hear  of  the  back-sliding  of  some  of  his 
Oxford  friends.  Mr.  Kinchin,  an  humble  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, had  gone  so  far  that  he  had  ceased  to  commune,  and  con- 
cluded to  resign  his  charge.  "  This  gave  Whitefield  a  great 
shock."  Whereupon  he  wrote  him  a  most  touching  letter, 
urging  him  not  to  give  up  his  charge  until  he  had  consulted  his 
friends  in  London.  Appealing  to  him  in  the  strongest  terms, 
he  exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  my  dear  brother,  I  travail  in  pain  for  you- 
Never  was  I  more  shocked  at  anything  than  at  your  proceed- 
ings."    "Satan  has  desired  to  sift  you  as  wheat."     But  "Oh, 

*During  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching  in  Gloucester,  old  Mr.  Cole,  a  dissenting 
minister,  used  to  say,  "  These  are  the  days  of  the  Son  of  man,  indeed."  White- 
field  was  taught,  when  young,  to  ridicule  Mr.  Cole  ;  and  being  asked  one  day 
"  what  business  he  would  be  of,"  he  said,  "A  minister,  but  he  would  take  care  and 
never  tell  stories  in  the  pulpit,  like  old  Cole."  Mr.  Cole  having  heard  Mr. 
Whitefield  tell  some  story  in  his  sermon  twelve  years  afterwards,  said,  "  I  find 
that  young  Whitefield  can  tell  stories  as  well  as  old  Cole."  He  was  much  affected 
at  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  and  often  went  about  preaching  after  him  from 
place  to  place.  But  one  evening,  while  preaching,  he  was  struck  with  death, 
and  then  asked  for  a  chair  to  lean  on  till  he  finished  his  sermon,  when  he  was 
caiTied  up  stairs  and  died.  Whereupon  Mr.  Whitefield  exclaimed,  "  O  blessed 
God  !  if  it  be  Thy  holy  will,  may  my  exit  be  like  his."  His  prayer  was  heard. 
See  his  death. 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND,  IO9 

my  dearest  brother,  do  nothing  rashly.  Consult  your  friends, 
and  do  not  break  the  heart  of  your  most  affectionate  brother  in 
Christ." 

In  visiting  the  societies  here,  although  many  of  the  students 
honored  him  with  their  presence,  yet  wringing  his  heart  with 
grief  at  the  fall  of  Kinchin  and  the  unfaithfulness  of  others,  like 
the  weeping  prophet  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  that  my  head  were 
waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I  might  weep 
day  and  night  for  the  members  of  this  University  1" 

HIS    RETURN    TO    LONDON. 

Leaving  Oxford,  he  reached  London,  April  25,  and^  was 
received  most  kindly.  After  a  veiy  pleasant  conference  with 
the  Fetter  Lane  brethren,  and  assisting  in  administering  the 
sacrament  at  Islington,  he  expounded  in  the  evening  to  a  house 
full  of  people,  "with  such  power  and  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  as  he  never  saw  before."  "  Floods  of  tears  flowed  from 
their  eyes."  Preaching  again  the  next  day,  in  Islington  church- 
yard, and  expounding  again  at  night,  he  found  the  London 
people  much  improved  since  he  had  left  them ;  "  and  I  believe 
they  would  pluck  out  their  eyes  if  it  were  possible,  to  serve  me." 

He  preached  and  expounded  again  the  next  day,  in  the 
same  place,  "  with  extraordinary  power,"  to  much  larger  con- 
gregations, and  says,  "  The  Word  of  the  Lord  runs,  and  is 
glorified.  God  strengthens  me  exceedingly,  and  I  preach  till  I 
sweat  through  and  through." 

Thus  prepared  by  afflictions,  trials  and  persecutions.  White- 
field  now  entered  upon  a  train  of  events  of  most  surpassing 
grandeur.  "All  London  was  now  ringing  with  the  announce- 
ment that  he  would  preach  next  Sunday,  April  29,  in  Moor- 
fields!'  And  moved  as  by  a  divine  impulse,  the  people  turned 
out  to  hear  him  in  such  vast  multitudes  as  the  world  never  saw 


1  lO  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

before.  "  The  thing  being  new  and  singular,"  says  Gilhes, 
"upon  coming  out  of  the  coach  he  found  an  incredible  number 
of  people  assembled."  And  although  "  many  had  told  him 
that  he  should  never  come  out  of  that  place  alive,"  yet  awed  by 
no  threats  and  flaming  with  zeal,  "  he  went  in  however,  between 
two  friends,  who,  by  the  pressure  of  the  crowd,  were  soon 
separated  from  him  entirely,  and  obliged  to  leave  him  to  the 
mercy  of  the  rabble.  But  these,  instead  of  hurting  him,  formed 
a  line  for  him,  and  carried  him  along  to  the  middle  of  the 
fields,  where  a  table  had  been  placed,  (which  was  broken  in 
pieces  by  the  crowd,)  and  afterwards  back  again  to  the  wall 
that  then  parted  the  upper  and  lower  Moorfields,  from  which 
he  preached  without  molestation  to  an  exceeding  great  multi- 
tude in  the  lower  fields." 

Encouraged  by  this  grand  success,  after  "  hearing  Dr.  Trapp 
preach  most  virulently  against  him"  (from  Eccl.  7,  16),  he 
preached  again  at  five,  at  Kennington  Common  (about  two 
miles  from  London),  he  says,  "to  a  congregation  of  about  thirty 
tho2isand  people.  All  stood  attentive  and  joined  in  the  psalm 
and  Lord's  Prayer  so  regularly,  that  I  scarce  ever  preached 
with  more  quietness  in  any  church.  The  people  were  much 
affected."  "Oh,  what  need  have  all  God's  people  to  rejoice  and 
give  thanks." 

"  For  this — let  men  revile  my  name, 
I'd  shun  no  cross,  .I'd  fear  no  shame, 
All  hail  reproach,  and  welcome  pain  ! 
Only  Thy  terrors,  Lord  restrain." 

"  For  several  months  after  this,"  says  Gillies,  "  Moorfields, 
Kennington  Common,  and  Blackheath  were  the  chief  scenes  of 
action."  With  such  vast  auditories,  "  it  is  said  their  singing 
could  be  heard  two  miles  off,  and  his  voice  nearly  a  mile. 
Sometimes  there  were  upwards  of  a  hundred  coaches,  besides 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  Ill 

wagons,  scaffolds  and  other  contrivances  which  persons  let  out 
for  the  convenience  of  the  audience."  The  place  where  he 
preached  on  Blackheath  is  still  known  as  "  Whitefi eld's 
Mount." 

Going  on  in  his  glorious  work,  he  preached  again  at  Isling- 
ton churchyard  to  an  increased  congregation,  and  upon  reach- 
ing Down-gate  hill  to  expound,  he  found  some  3,000  people 
gathered  around  the  house,  and  being  unable  to  get  in  he  stood 
in  the  front  window  and  preached  to  them  in  the  street.  This 
convinced  him  more  fully  that  God  called  him  to  the  fields,  for 
says  he,  "  no  house  or  street  will  contain  half  of  the  people  that 
come  to  hear  the  Word."  He  preached  repeatedly  at  Ken- 
nington  Common  during  the  week,  to  congregations  varying 
from  ten  to  twenty  thousand,  with  a  very  deep  effect.  And 
seeing  them  "  so  much  affected,"  he  exclaimed,  "  Glory  be  to 
God.  I  begin  to  see  an  alteration  in  the  people's  behavior 
already." 

Although  Whitefield  now  met  with  much  strong  opposition, 
yet,  increasing  in  popularity  and  power,  he  went  forth  preach- 
ing the  gospel  to  vast  and  increased  multitudes.  On  Sabbath 
morning.  May  6,  he  preached  in  Moorfields  to  a  congregation 
of  about  20,000  much-affected  hearers ;  and  in  the  evening 
again  at  6,  at  Kennington  Common.  And  says  he,  "  sucJi  a 
sight  I  never  saw  before.  I  believe  they  were  no  less  than 
fifty  thousand  people,  near  four-score  coaches,  besides  great 
numbers  of  horses;  and  what  is  more  remarkable,  there  was 
such  an  azvfitl  sile^ice  among  them.  The  Word  of  God  came 
with  such  power,  that  all  seemed  pleasingly  surprised.  God 
gave  me  great  enlargement  of  heart.  I  spoke  for  an  hour 
and  a  half;  and  when  I  returned  home,  I  was  filled  with  such 
love,  peace,  and  joy,  that  I  cannot  express  it.  The  more 
men  oppose,  the  more  will  Jesus  be  exalted."     On  the  8th,  he 


112  LIFE    OF   WIIITKFIELD. 

preached  again  at  Kennington  Common,  and  before  he  started, 
it  rained  so  hard,  he  says,  "  I  thought  of  not  going ;  but  sev- 
eral pious  friends  joined  in  hearty  prayer  that  God  would  be 
pleased  to  withhold  the  rain,  which  was  done  immediately. 
And  to  my  great  sui'prise  when  I  came  to  the  common  I 
found  above  20,000  people."  Receiving  a  shower  of  grace, 
they  were  much  melted  down,  and  earnestly  prayed  for  the 
preacher. 

With  all  the  gloiy  of  his  wonderful  success,  in  Moorfields 
and  Kennington  Common,  Whitefield  never  lost  sight  of  his 
poor  orphans  in  Georgia.  And  waiting  upon  the  Georgia 
Trustees  the  next  day,  they  not  only  received  him  "  with  the 
utmost  civility,"  but  granted  him  500  acres  of  land  for  the 
Orphan  House.  He  preached  again  in  the  evening  at  Ken- 
nington Common  to  about  20,000  people,  and  God  so  touched 
their  hearts  that  tliey  gave  zvitli  great  cheerfulness  and  eager- 
?iess,  over  £/!^'j  for  the  Orphan  House.  "  For  this,"  he  says 
"  God  so  filled  me  with  love,  humility  and  joy,  that  I  could  at 
last  only  pour  out  my  heart  before  Him  in  an  awful  silence." 
"  I  was  so  full  that  I  could  scarcely  speak." 

A    HEAVY    COLLECTION. 

Every  day's  work  is  now  surrounded  with  such  a  halo  of 
glory,  it  is  very  refreshing  to  record  it.  And  wrought  up  by 
the  grandeur  of  his  work,  like  a  flaming  seraph,  he  went  on  in 
it,  and  preached  again,  May  13,  to  a  vast  multitude  at  Moor- 
fields. Touched  by  God's  grace,  they  gave  ^^52  19s.  6d.,  for  the 
poor  orphans  ;  ^20  of  which  was  in  half-pence.  He  said,  "  It 
was  more  than  one  man  could  carry  home."  After  tending 
j>ublic  worship  twice  in  the  church,  "  he  preached  again  in  the 
evening,"  he  says,  "  to  near  sixtj/  thousand  people.  Many  went 
away  because  they  could   not  hear."     "  It  is  very  remarkable 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  TI3 

\\  hat  a  </d7y^  ^v/tv/tr  is  preserved  while  I  am  speaking."  After 
sermon  "I  made  another  collection,  making  in  all  £']2  17s.  2d., 
during  the  day  ;  and  came  home  deeply  humbled  with  a  sense 
of  what  God  had  done  for  my  soul."  After  preaching  "to  the 
politer  sort,"  at  Hamstead-heath,  he  gave  them  another 
stirring  sermon  to  a  congregation  of  over  20,000  at  Shadwell. 
And  with  all  this  grand  success,  he  says,  "  I  have  scarcely  felt 
one  self-complacent  thought." 

Being  deeply  impressed  by  reading  Whitefield's  sermon  on 
Regeneration,  Joseph  Periam  prayed  so  loud,  fasted  so  long, 
and  gave  so  liberally,  that  his  family  thought  him  deranged, 
and  sent  him  to  the  mad-house.  There  he  was  treated  as  one 
"  Methodistically  mad."  "  There  the  keepers  threw  him  down, 
thrust  a  key  into  his  mouth,  and  drenched  him  with  medicine." 
While  there  he  sent  for  Whitefield ;  who  when  he  went  to  see 
him,  "  found  him  in  perfect  health,  both  in  body  and  in  mind." 
It  was  agreed,  however,  that  if  Whitefield  would  take  Periam 
to  Georgia,  they  would  release  him.  ^  He  was  released,  and 
went  as  a  school-master  for  the  Orphan  House,  where  he  lived 
a  useful  and   exemplary  life,  and  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith. 

After  preaching  three  or  four  more  sermons  at  Moorfields 
and  Kennington  Common,  to  congregations  varying  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  thousand,  he  went  to  Hertford,  where  he  found 
a  thronged  and  much  alarmed  town.  Here  he  expected  many 
scoffers,  but  he  preached  with  so  much  tenderness  and  power 
they  were  all  soon  awed  into  silence. 

Cheered  by  a  refreshing  letter  from  Rev.  Ralph  P^rskine 
of  Scotland,  Whitefield  reached  Northampton  May  23,  and 
was  most  courteously  received  by  IJr.  Doddridge.  After  giving 
them  two  powerful  sermons  here,  he  went  on  and  preached 
with  unusual  interest  at  Olney,  Bedford,  Hitchen  and  Gt.  Al- 
bans, and  again  on  Saturday  evening  at  Kennington  Common, 


114  LIFE    OF    VVHITEFIELD. 

and  says  "This  has  been  a  week  of  fat  things."  He  gave 
them  another  melting  sermon  at  Moorfields  the  next  Sabbath 
morning,  and  another  to  a  congregation  of  about  30,000  in  the 
evening  at  Kennington  Common.  The  effect  was  so  great,  he 
said  it  was  enough  to  convince  the  greatest  skeptic. 

Although  Whitefield  had  a  heart  glowing  with  tenderness 
and  love,  yet,  like  Jesus,  he  sometimes  warned  and  reproved 
in  the  strongest  terms.  Constrained  by  a  Saviour's  love,  when 
he  saw  Christ's  cause  suffering  through  unsound  ministers,  he 
would  boldly  "  cry  aloud  and  spare  not." 

Standing  before  a  weeping  congregation  in  the  green  fields 
of  Hackney,  where  he  had  just  preached  with  great  power  on 
the  necessity  of  Regeneration  and  the  operation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  he  said  when  "  Great  numbers  were  drowned  in  tears,  I 
could  not  help  exposing  the  impiety  of  those  vile  teachers, 
who  say  we  are  not  now  to  receive  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  count 
the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth  enthusiasm.  Out  of  your  own 
mouths  will  I  condemn  you,  you  wicked  and  blind  guides. 
Did  you  not,  at  the  time  of  ordination,  tell  the  bishop  that 
you  were  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  take  upon  you 
the  administration  of  the  Church  ?  Surely  at  that  time,  you 
acted  the  crime  of  Ananias  and  Sapphira  over  again.  You 
hed  not  only  unto  man,  but  unto  God." 

This  bold  denunciation  brought  down  upon  him  the  wrath 
of  the  clergy,  and  the  controversy  about  the  nature  and  neces- 
sity of  Regeneration,  and  the  operation  of  the  Spirit,  waxed 
very  warm.  But,  says  "The  Christian  Review,"  "It  did  infinite 
good,  'by  rebound.'  The  common  people  received  and  be- 
lieved it  to  the  very  salvation  of  the  church."  (No.  10,  1838,  p. 
273.)  And  braving  all  opposition,  he  went  on  in  the  good 
work,  and  relying  with  full  confidence  upon  God  for  protection, 
to  their  false  charges  he  would  very  often  make  no  reply,  but 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  II5 

simply  leave  the  whole  matter  with  God,  saying,  "  Thou  shalt 
answer  for  me,  O,  Lord." 

Still  rising  in  popularity  and  power,  he  entered  upon  the 
labors  of  another  month  with  renewed  zeal  and  increased 
congregations.  Moved  as  by  a  divine  impulse,  the  people  now 
turned  out  in  still  greater  multitudes  than  ever.  Standing  upon 
a  broad  scaffold  at  Mayfair,  he  discharged  another  heavy  volley 
of  "the  artillery  of  heaven"  upon  a  congregation  which  "he 
believed  consisted  of  near  eighty  thousand."  He  said,  "  It  was 
by  far  the  largest  congregation  I  ever  preached  to."  The 
Word  came  with  wonderful  power,  and  they  were  wrapt  in  "  a 
deep  silence  during  the  whole  discourse."  "Though  weak, 
God  enabled  him  to  speak  so  loud  that  most  all  could  hear ; 
■and  so  powerful  that  most  all  were  made  to  feel.  Oh,  what  a 
glorious  sight !  To  see  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  falling  and 
flaming  from  his  fiery  lips,  and  cutting  its  way  into  the  hearts 
of  so  many  at  once,  was  truly  grand  and  sublime.  "All  glory 
be  to  God  through  Jesus  Christ."  And,  "  keeping  up  the  fire," 
although  very  sick  and  weak,  the  next  day  he  preached  again 
at  Hackney  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  with  such  power,  "  that 
the  people  were  dissolved  into  tears,  and  contributed  £yo  for 
the  orphans." 

Having  enjoyed  many  precious  seasons  at  Moorfields  and 
Kennington  Common,  on  June  3  he  preached  them  a  melting 
farewell  sermon,  with  a  congregation  of  some  60,000  drenched 
in  tears ;  the  sight  was  very  impressive.  When  he  came  to 
speak  of  his  departure,  the  feeling  and  interest  rose  higher 
than  ever,  and  with  thousands  of  ejaculations  and  fci-vent 
prayers  going  up  in  his  behalf,  he  bade  them  an  affectionate 
farewell.  With  a  grateful  heart,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what 
great  kindness  has  God  shown  me  in  this  great  city  !  Indeed, 
I  liave  seen  the  kingdom  of  God  come  with  power." 


Il6  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 


BLACKHEATH. 


"  Changing  his  base,"  he  went,  June  4,  1739,  to  Blackheath, 
and  was  kindly  received  by  the  Bishop  of  London.  Here  he 
found  nearly  as  large  a  congregation  as  he  had  at  Kennington 
the  previous  Sabbath.  Speaking  with  unusual  power,  he  says, 
"the  people  were  so  melted  down,  and  wept  so  loud,  that  they 
almost  drowned  my  voice."  Here  he  preached  repeatedly  to 
congregations  of  about  20,000,  and  the  interest  was  so  great 
the  people  "often  sung  and  prayed  all  night."  Sometimes 
they  became  so  happy,  he  said,  "  Surely  it  was  heaven  begun 
upon  earth."  Detained  by  the  embargo  from  sailing  for 
America  soon  as  he  expected,  Whitefield  had  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  his  old  honored  friend,  John  Wesley,  preach  to  the 
thronged  congregations  of  Blackheath.  For  him  he  prayed 
"  The  Lord  give  him  ten  thousand  times  more  success  than  lie 
has  given  me."  After  sermon  they  spent  the  evening  most 
agreeably  together  with  many  friends  in  the  prayer  meeting. 
After  a  happy  reunion  with  his  old  friends  at  Blendon,  he  ex- 
claimed "Oh!  how  sweet  is  this  retirement  to  my  soul." 

With  the  ''great  work"  now  begun  and  rapidly  progress- 
ing in  England,  he  went  on  in  it  with  renewed  zeal.  Although 
reported  "dead,"  on  June  23,  with  much  surprise  to  the  people 
he  filled  his  appointment  that  day,  and  preached  to  over 
20,000  the  next  day  at  Blackheath.  Returning  again  to  Glou- 
cester, "  to  his  great  surprise  on  going  out  to  preach  at  tlamp- 
ton  Common,  he  found  over  20,000  people  assembled  to  hear 
him."  The  report  of  his  being  dead  increased  the  anxiety  to 
hear  him.  And  on  the  8th  of  July  we  find  him  back  to  Bris- 
tol again,  preaching  to  a  congregation  of  20,000  at  his  old 
stand,  Rose  Green.  He  now  had  the  great  pleasure  of 
preaching   to   several    thousand     in    the    Kingswood   school 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  II7 

house,  the  foundation  of  which  he  formerly  laid,  which  hav 
ing  been  carried  on  by  John  Wesley,  was  now  nearly  com- 
pleted. Having  proved  a  great  success,  it  afterwards  became 
"  The  first  Methodist  Seminary  in  the  worldy  In  noticing  the 
great  improvement  of  the  people,  he  says,  "instead  of  cursing 
and  swearing  as  formerly,  the  poor  colliers  now  make  the 
woods  ring  with  the  high  praises  of  God."  The  success  of 
their  school  and  their  future  prospects  "  filled  him  with  a  joy 
unspeakable."  Hastening  back  to  Bristol,  he  preached  to  a 
large  congregation  the  next  day  at  Baptist  Mills,  and,  says  he, 
"It  rained  much,  but  blessed  be  God,  the  people's  hearts  are 
so  much  influenced  by  the  Gospel,  that  they  care  but  little 
whether  it  rains  or  shines." — Let   dry-weather  Christians  be 

admonished. 

Leaving  his  congregation  at  Bristol  in  a  flood  of  tears, 
whence  "they  would  scarcely  let  him  go,"  "with  his  own 
heart  ready  to  burst  with  joy,"  after  preaching  again  to  about 
20,000  at  Hampton  Common,  we  find  him  on  the  17th  at 
Malmsbury,  where  he  was  so  weak  in  body  and  deserted  in 
mind,  that  he  says,  "  I  felt  myself  to  be  what  I  often  say  we 
all  are  by  nature,  half  a  devil  and  Jialf  a  beasts  And  longing 
to  be  more  meek  and  lowly,  he  prayed  "  Lord,  give  me  humility 
or  I  die." 

Going  on  in  his  good  work,  we  next  find  him  driven  out  of 
a  hotel  in  Basingstoke,  under  a  shower  of  cruel  mockings,  bit- 
ter words,  and  fire-rockets  ;  but  with  a  Christ-like  forbearance, 
instead  of  resenting  these  reviHngs,  he  stopped  and  gave  God 
thanks  for  counting  him  worthy  to  suffer  such  reproaches  for 
His  name's  sake.  Some  threatened  that  "he  should  never  go 
out  of  Basingstoke  alive,"  yet  he  went  out  and  preached  in  the 
field  the  next  day  with  scarce  any  interruption.  And  he  spoke 
with    such    melting   power  against   reviling,  the  v^rv   scoffers 


Il8  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

were  overawed  and  unable  to  resist  the  truth.     He  says,  "  Here 
I  got  a  blow." 

Saturday  morning,  July  2i,  brought  him  back  to  London; 
and  after  a  joyful  interview  with  his  friends,  he  preached  with 
great  power  to  upwards  of  10,000  at  Kennington  Common. 
"  The  poor  souls,"  he  says,  "  were  ready  to  leap  with  joy  at  my 
return,  and  my  own  heart  overflowed  with  love  towards  them." 
And  being  much  refreshed  since  he  was  abused  at  Basingstoke, 
he  says,  "When  men  cast  us  out,  then  does  Jesus  Christ  chiefly 
take  us  up." 

Thanking  God  for  what  had  been  done  in  London  during 
his  absence  by  his  dear  friend,  Charles  Wesley,  he  preached 
again  the  next  day  at  Moorfields,  "  with  a  deeper  interest  than 
ever,"  and  says,  "  Never  were  souls  more  melted  down  by 
the  power  of  God's  word,  and  never  did  they  give  more  will- 
ingly to  support  His  cause."  He  preached  again  in  the  even- 
ing at  Kennington  Common  to  about  30,000,  and  collected  that 
day  over  ^40  for  Kingswood  school.  Here  he  spoke  with 
great  power  and  boldness  in  refuting  the  prevalent  false  views 
of  Sanctification  and  Regeneration,  which  denied  the  funda- 
mental doctrine  of  the  new  birth. 

On  the  26th  he  preached  to  over  10,000  at  a  Horse-Rnce  at 
Hackney-Marsh ;  where  the  magic  power  of  his  eloquence 
was  seen  in  holding  the  curious  crowd  from  the  exciting  scene 
of  a  horse-race.  "  Very  few,"  he  said,  "  left  the  sermon  to  see 
the  race."  Encouraged  by  this  grand  success,  he  said,  "By  the 
help  of  God,  I  will  still  go  on  to  attack  the  devil  in  his  strong- 
est holds." 

The  following  Sabbath  he  took  his  leave  of  Kennington 
Common ;  and  with  a  congregation  of  near  30,000  bathed  in 
tears  and  patiently  standing  in  the  rain,  the  scene  was  very 
affecting.     And  rejoicing  "  at  the  great  things  God  had  done," 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND. 


119 


he  went  on  with  his  weeping  farewells,  until  he  came  to  Black- 
heath,  when,  with  a  congregation  of  near  40,000  deeply-affected 
hearers,  he  said,  "  Finally,  Brethren,  Farewell ;  thousands  im- 
mediately burst  into  strong  crying  and  tears."  Yet  with  all 
this  grand  success,  with  a  deep  sense  of  his  own  weakness  and 
imperfections,  he  felt  himself  to  be  "but  a  stripling,"  "  a  babe," 
and  "a  novice,"  just  '^beginning  to  be  a  Christian;"  and  expect- 
ing soon  to  die  at  the  stake,  he  says,  "  I  care  not  what  I  suffer, 
so  that  souls  are  brought  to  Christ." 


CHAPTER    XII 


HIS    SECOND    VOYAGE    AND    VISIT   TO    AMERICA. 

s^ROWNED  with  a  glorious  success  in  Great 
^  Britain,  with  over  i,ooo  pounds  steding  col- 
lected for  the  Orphan  House,  the  great  Evang- 
^  elist  sailed  on  board  the  Elizabeth,  from 
Gravesend,  for  Philadelphia,  August  14,  1739. 
Accompanied  with  his  little  family  of  eight 
men,  one  boy,  two  girls,  and  Mr.  Seward,  with 
his  sublime  faith,  he  said,  "  I  doubt  not  but 
we  shall  be  as  safe  as  was  Noah  in  the  Ark."  "  Every  place 
is  alike  to  those  who  have  the  presence  of  God  with  them." 
Before  sailing,  he  went  on  board  the  ship  and  sanctified  it  with 
the  Word  of  God  and  prayer. 

Shut  out  from  his  wide  range  of  field-preaching,  and  con- 
fined to  the  narrow  limits  of  ship-board,  he  now  turned  in  and 
gave  special  attention  to  self- examination.  In  asking  pardon 
for  the  defects  of  his  own  public  ministry,  and  in  praying  for 
strength  for  his  future  work,  he  says,  "  My  soul  was  frequently 
dissolved  into  tears — a  sense  of  my  actual  sins  humbled  me  ex- 
ceedingly." "And  then  the  freeness  and  richness  of  God's 
everla-sting  love  broke  in  with  such  light  and  power  upon  my 
soul,  that  I  was  awed  into  silence,  and,  for  a  while,  could  not 
speak."  He  said,  "My  heart  is  like  Ezekicl's  temple,  the 
farther  I  search  into  it,  the  greater  abominations  I  discover." 
He  felt  himself  to  be  "  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,"  and  so 
humbled  that  he  called  himself  "  a  dead  dog."     On   another 

(120) 


HIS    SECOND    VOYAGE   AND    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  121 

occasion,  he  got  so  deep  into  the  depravity  of  his  own  depraved 
heart,  that  he  says,  "  I  see  nothing  but  hell  in  my  soul."  In 
reading  the  history  of  the  Martyrs,  he  says,  "  They  make  mc 
blush  to  think  how  little  I  suffer  for  Christ's  sake,  and  make  me 
think  the  time  long,  till  I  am  called  to  resist  unto  blood.  But 
I  fear  the  treachery  of  my  own  heart." 

Tried  with  "  many  inward  struggles,"  on  September  22  he 
says,  "I  have  undergone  inexpressible  agonies  of  soul  for  two 
or  three  days,  at  the  remembrance  of  my  sins.  Surely  my 
sorrows  were  so  great,  that  had  not  God  in  the  midst  of  them 
comforted  my  soul,  the  load  would  have  been  unsupportable ! 
All  the  while  I  was  assured  God  had  forgiven  me,  but  I  could 
not  forgive  myself  for  sinning  against  so  much  light  and  love." 
Out  of  these  deep  depths,  like  the  Publican,  he  earnestly  cried, 
"God,  be  merciful  to  mc,  a  sinner!"  "At  length,"  he  says,  "  my 
Lord  looked  upon  me,  and  with  that  look  broke  my  rocky  heart, 
and  floods  of  contrite  tears  gushed  out  before  my  whole  family. 
I  wept  most  bitterly."  But,  thank  God,  this  dark  cloud  soon 
passed  away ;  and  the  next  day  he  "  had  a  sweet  Sacrament," 
and  felt  such  unspeakable  comfort,  "  that  he  felt  it  an  ample 
recompense  "  for  his  late  anguished  trials. 

Having  enjoyed  such  a  good  time  for  self-examination, 
writing  letters,  reading  books,  and  writing  a  sketch  of  his  own 
boyhood,  together  with  their  regular  sweet  communions  during 
this  voyage,  he  valued  the  privilege  of  this  "Sweet  Retirement," 
(as  he  called  it,)  so  highly,  that  he  said,  "  I  would  not  but  have 
come  this  voyage,  for  a  thousand  worlds.  It  has  been  sweet 
and  profitable  to  my  soul."  "Lord,  I  want  to  hiow  myself  and 
Theey  As  the  result  of  this  self-examination,  he  says,  "  The 
prospect  of  the  many  changes  and  trials  which  I  must  neces- 
sarily be  exposed  to,  sometimes  fills  me  with  fear  and  tremb- 
ling ;  but  when  I  reflect  that  God  has  stirred  up  his  choicest 


122  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

seivants  to  pray  for  nie,  viy  fears  vanish  :  Methinks  I  cou'ci 
then  leap  into  a  burning,  fiery  furnace,  or  bear  to  be  thrown  inL<  / 
a  den  of  devouring  hons."  Wonderful  words!  O,  what  sli-oi/i^ 
faith  in  God,  and  what  a  firm  reliance  in  prayer,  they  indicate. 
And  falling  upon  his  knees  he  cried,  "Lord,  make  mc  thu.. 
minded  in  the  hour  of  trial."  Yet  with  all  these  severe  agonies, 
he  says,  "As  yet  my  trials  have  been  nothing."  And  gloryin;,; 
in  the  Cross,  while  some  prefer  to  fill  a  fine  pulpit,  or  a  fat 
professor's  chair,  he  says,  "  I  am  persuaded  that  suffering  for 
righteousness'  sake  is  the  greatest  preferment  in  the  church." 

Deeply  lamenting  the  imperfections  of  his  public  ministra 
tions,  he  exclaimed,  "  Who  can  hope  to  be  justified  by  his  own 
works?"  (."My  preaching,  praying,  etc.,  are  only  splcndida 
peecatal'  splendid  sins)  And  in  recalling  the  effects  of  these 
heart-probings,  he  says,  "  The  remembrance  thereof  is  sweet  to 
my  soul,  and  fills  me  with  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

Drawing  nearer  to  God  as  he  drew  nearer  to  land,  they 
came  in  sight  of  America  October  22,  1739,  and  landed  on  the 
30th  about  dark,  at  Lewistown,  Pennsylvania.  Filled  with  a 
sense  of  God's  love,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh  how  can  I  be  thankful 
enough  for  \}[{\s  blessed  voyage!  I  have  been  on  board  just 
eleven  weeks,  but  they  have  seemed  to  me  as  so  many  days." 
Putting  up  at  a  hotel,  he  was  kindly  received  and  invited  to 
preach  the  next  day.  Leaving  Lewistown  October  31,  after 
traveling  about  150  miles  on  horseback,  they  reached  Philadel- 
phia November  2  late  at  night.  The  next  day  he  visited 
his  friends  on  the  "  Elizabeth,"  rented  a  cheap  house  and 
"got  fixed  up"  in  it  before  night.  Strengthened  by. the  trials 
of  his  late  voyage,  he  now  commenced  preaching  daily  with 
great  power  to  very  large  congregations.  The  city  churches 
were  all  thrown  open  to  him,  but  being  too  small  for  his  con- 
gregations, he  usually  spoke  from  the  Old  Court  House  steps 


HIS    SECOND    VOYAGE    AND    VlSfT   tO    AMERICA.  123 

on  Market  street.  On  the  evening  of  the  8th,  here  he  had  a 
congregation  of  some  6,000.  On  the  next  evening,  with  about 
8,000  standing  in  the  street,  with  the  adjoining  houses  illumi- 
nated and  the  windows  crowded,  all  listening  with  rapt  atten- 
tion, the  scene  was  peculiarly  grand  and  imposing.  "The  Lord 
endued  me  with  power  from  on  high,  and  I  felt,"  he  says,  "as 
though  I  could  have  spoken  all  night."  "  They  seemed  most 
gladly  to  receive  and  sweetly  to  melt  under  the  Word." 

The  next  day  he  preached  to  large  weeping  congregations 
at  the  Jail  and  the  Court  House  steps,  and  with  his  house 
crowded  with  anxious  inquirers  in  the  evening,  he  said,  "  This 
has  been  a  day  of  fat  things."  Here  he  was  much  cheered 
with  a  visit  from  the  venerable  old  Mr.  Tennent.  He  dined 
.with  William  Penn  one  day,  and  received  many  visits  from  the 
city  clergy.  Blessed  with  great  success,  he  says,  "  My  power 
and  freedom  of  speech  now  increases  daily,  and  many,  I  believe, 
have  been  pierced  to  the  heart  in  Philadelphia." 

NEW    YORK. 

Pressed  by  invitation,  he  set  out  for  New  York  on  the  1 2th, 
reached  it  on  the  14th,  and  was  most  kindly  received  by  Mr. 
Nobles.  He  preached  by  the  way  at  Burlington  and  New 
Brunswick.  The  same  day  he  went  to  hear  Rev.  Gilbert 
Tennent.  "  He  goes  to  the  bottom  of  things,  and  never  before 
did  I  hear  such  a  searching  sermon."  After  spending  an  even- 
ing with  him,  Whitefield  says,  "  My  soul  was  humbled  and 
melted  down  with  a  sense  of  God's  mercies ;  and  I  found  more 
and  more  what  a  babe  and  novice  I  was  in  the  things  of  God." 
Upon  reaching  New  York  he  called  upon  Mr.  Vesey,  the  Epis- 
copal minister,  who  treated  him  so  coolly,  he  refused  him  his 
pulpit  before  he  asked  for  it.  Whereupon  Whitefield  repaired 
to  the  fields  and  preached  to  a  congregation  of  over  2,000  in 


124  LIFE   OF   WHITFIELD. 

the  afternoon,  and  to  a  thronged  congregation  in  Mr.  Pember- 
ton's  Presbyterian  church  at  night.  Sometimes  the  congrega- 
tions were  so  large  a  great  many  could  not  get  in  the  church. 
The  opposition  among  the  clergy  was  so  great  that  they  all  re- 
fused him  their  pulpits  but  Mr.  Pemberton.  The  thrdilg  to 
hear  his  last  sermon  was  so  great  that  they  tried  to  get  the 
town-hall,  but  failed ;  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he 
made  his  way  to  the  church.  After  sermon  many  went  to  pray 
with  him  and  to  bid  him  farewell.  He  said  "  he  had  not  felt 
such  freedom  and  sweetness  of  soul  before,  since  h^  had  been 
in  America."  Touching  the  effects  oi  his  labors  here,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Pembertqn  says,  "  he  left  New  York  under  a  deep  and 
universal  concern.  Many  were  greatly  affected.  Some  that 
were  befor^'  very  loose  and  profligate,  looked  back  with  shame 
upon  their  past  lives,  and  seemed  resolved  upon  a  thorough 
reformation." 

And  while  grasping  for  souls  here  in  New  York,  his 
thoughts  fly  home,  and  his  prayers  ascend  to  God  for  the 
salvation  of  his  mother  in  England.  With  a  longing  heart  he 
exclaims  in  a  letter  to  her,  "  Oh,  my  honored  mother,  my  soul 
is  in  deep  distress  for  you  :  Flee,  flee,  I  beseech  you,  to  Jesus 
Christ  by  faith.  Lay  hold  on  Him,  and  do  not  let  Him  go. 
God  hath  given  you  convictions.  Arise,  arise,  and  never  rest 
till  they  end  in  a  sound  conversion.  Dare  to  deny  thyself 
My  honored  mother,  I  beseech  you  by  the  mercies  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus,  dare  to  take  up  thy  cross  and  follow  Christ." 


CHAPTER    XIII 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH. 

SnCOURAGED  with  his  success  in  New  York, 
and  longing  to  see  after  his  poor  orphans,  he 
sailed  in  a  boat  for  Savannah,  Georgia,  Novem- 
i8,  1739.  Reaching  Elizabethtown  the  next 
5-;'^  day,  after  a  pleasant  interview  with  his  es- 
)^  teemed  friend,  Mr.  Tennent,  and  others,  he 
dined  with  the  distinguished  Rev.  Dr.  Dick- 
enson, and  preached  for  him  the  same  day. 
Many  were  deeply  impressed.  Hastening  on,  he  reached 
New  Brunswick  the  next  day  and  preached  three  times  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  to  very  large,  attentive  congregations. 
Several  were  powerfully  convicted,  and  "  many  were  ready  to 
leap  for  joy." 

Sometimes  Whitefield  came  out  in  very  strong  terms 
against  unconverted  ministers,  and  to-day  one  Mr.  Campbell 
who  had  been  preaching  some  four  years,  having  recently  been 
convicted  of  his  sins  and  unconverted  state,  refused  to  preach 
until  he  was  converted.  After  much  anguish  of  soul,  White- 
field,  by  a  long  talk  persuaded  him  to  resume  preaching.  His 
case  reminded  Mr.  W,  of  Prof.  Frank,  who  was  to  preach  on 
saving  faith,  but  finding  he  had  not  that  faith  himself,  was 
powerfully  convicted,  ran  into  the  woods,  sought  pardon,  and 
became  strong  in  faith. 

At  Maidenhead  he  preached  to  about  1,500  from  a  wagon,    -^ 
And  again  at  Trenton,  where  he  spoke  with  unusual  tenderness 

(125) 


126  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

and  power,  and  was  so  "  humbled  that  he  could  scarce  hold  up 
his  head." 

THE    LOG    COLLEGE 1739- 

Founded  in  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Tennent,  Sr.,  and 
abundantly  blessed  of  God,  it  wa^  the  cradle  of  Presbyterianism 
in  America,  and  the  germ  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 
Though  a  log-cabin,  standing  twenty  miles  north  of  Philadel- 
phia on  the  plain  of  the  Neshaminy,  it  was  beautiful  for  situa- 
tion. The  oldest  record  of  it  is  found  in  Whitefield's  Journal ; 
who  says,  November  22,  1739,  "  Set  out  for  Neshaminy,  twenty 
miles  from  Trenton,  where  old  Mr.  Tennent  lives  and  keeps  an 
Academy.  It  is  in  contempt  called  'The  College!  It  is  a  log 
building,  about  twenty  feet  long,  and  near  as  many  broad  ;  and 
to  me  it  seemed  to  resemble  the  Schools  of  the  old  Prophets." 
Here  Whitefield  preached  to  above  3,000  people  in  the  church- 
yard. "At  first,"  he  says,  "  they  seemed  unaffected,  but  in  the 
midst  of  my  discourse,  I  felt  such  a  wrestling  in  myself  for  the 
people,  as  I  scarce  ever  felt  before.  The  hearers  began  to  be 
melted  down  immediately,  and  cried  much.  After  I  had  fin- 
ished, Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  gave  a  word  of  exhortation  to  con- 
firm what  had  been  said."  To  see  a  deeply  affected  congrega- 
tion of  3,000,  standing  in  the  open  air  on  a  cold  November 
day,  patiently  listening  to  the  world's  greatest  preacher,  with 
many  begging  for  mercy,  and  with  near  1,000  horses 
standing  round,  was  a  grand  sight.  At  the  close,  he 
says,  "We  went  to  old  Mr.  Tennent's  who  entertained 
us  like  one  of  the  ancient  Patriarchs.  His  wife  to  me  seemed 
like  Elizabeth,  and  he  like  Zachariah — both  walking  in  all  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord,  blameless."  "Though  God  was 
pleased  so  to  humble  my  soul,  that  I  was  obliged  to  retire  for 
a  while,  we  had  sweet  communion  with  each  other."     "Mr- 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH.       127 

Tennent  and  his  brethren  are  appointed  to  be  a  Presbytery,  so 
that  they  intend  bringing  up  gracious  youths  to  preach  the 
gospel,"  They  studied  in  'Hhe  College^'  which  at  that  time  had 
already  sent  out  seven  or  eight  worthy  ministers,  and  with 
several  more  almost  ready  to  go,  its  future  prospects  were  very 
encouraging.  The  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Alexander  says,  "the  Log 'Col- 
lege '  was  not  only  '  the  ger;/i '  of  the  present  distinguished 
college  of  New  Jersey,  now  worth  over  a  million  of  dollars, 
and  presided  over  by  the  learned  Dr.  McCosh,  but  also  of  Jef- 
ferson, Hampden  Sidney,  and  Washington  Colleges."  White- 
field  did  much  to  build  up  this  college,  and  prayed  that  "  it 
might  increase  with  all  the  increase  of  God."  Let  none 
"  despise  the  day  of  small  things." 

The  next  day  he  "parted  with  dear  Mr.  Tennent,"  rode  to 
Abington,  and  preached  to  a  congregation  of  over  2,000  from 
the  church-porch.  "Although  it  was  very  cold,  the  people 
listened  veiy  patiently  in  the  open  air,  and  seemed  in  no  hurry 
to  return  home  after  the  discourses  were  ended."  The  impres- 
sion was  Very  deep,  and  he  said,  "  I  think  I  never  saw  greater 
things,  no,  not  in  England."  "  What,"  he  said,  "  are  outward 
things  to  a  soul  intent  on  God?  Less  than  nothing."  He  was 
very  much  surprised  to  see  such  large  crowds  collect  from  the 
country  on  such  short  notice. 

Thanking  God  for  this  little  excursion  to  New  York,  he 
hurried  back  to  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  24th  preached  there 
with  great  power,  and  found  many  inquiring  what  to  do  to  be 
saved.  After  preaching  again  at  night  to  a  vast  crowd  of  all 
denominations,  and  visiting  two  sick  persons,  he  laid  down  with 
a  strong  desire  to  see  his  own  unworthiness,  and  said,  "  What- 
ever others  may  see  in  themselves  I  know  not ;  this  one  thing 
1  know,  I  see  nothing  but  hell  in  my  soul." 

After  some  difficulty  in   selecting  a  text  the   next  day,  at 


128  LIFE   OF    VVHITEFIELD, 

length  he  found  one,  and  preached  on  the  imputed  righteous- 
ness of  Christ.  Jer.  xxxiii.  i6.  At  the  close  of  this  sermon,  a 
young  man,  once  a  minister,  rose  and  warned  the  people  against 
such  a  doctrine,  but  Whitefield,  proving  his  point,  soon  put  the 
gainsayer  to  silence  with  good  effect.  Having  administered  the 
Lord's  supper  in  a  private  house,  and  attended  a  prayer- 
meeting,  he  was  so  thronged  with  anxious  inquirers  that  he 
had  not  time  to  write  a  letter  to  his  friends.  "  They  follow  me 
wherever  I  go,  as  they  did  in  London."  On  the  27th  he 
preached  nearly  two  hours  to  over  6,000  hearers  in  Gerniati- 
toxvii  from  a  balcony,  with  such  melting  power,  "that  great 
numbers  wept  most  profusely.  It  was  a  real  time  of  refreshing." 
Here  he  enjoyed  sweet  communion  with  many  souls  of  differ- 
ent nations  and  professions.  Here  too,  he  found  the  Germans 
translating  his  Journal  into  High  Dutch.  On  his  return  to 
Philadelphia,  he  found  a  crowd  waiting  around  his  door  to  hear 
the  word  of  life.  He  prayed  and  spoke  to  them,  "  Many  wept 
bitterly." 

"  The  effects  produced  in  Philadelphia  about  this  time  by  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  were  truly  astonishing.*  Numbers 
of  almost  all  denominations,  and  many  who  had  no  connection 
with  any  denomination,  were  brought  to  inquire,  with  the 
utmost  earnestness,  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved.  There 
was  public  worship  regularly  twice  a  day  for  a  year.  The  city 
contained  26  societies  for  social  prayer."  (Memoirs  of  Mrs. 
Hannah  Hodge.) 

*Dr.  Gillies  says  that  Whitefield  spoke  so  loud  in  Philadelphia,  "  that  his 
voice  was  distinctly  heard  on  the  Jersey  shore,  and  so  distinct  that  every  word 
was  understood  on  board  of  a  shallop  at  Market  street  wharf,  a  distance  of  upwards 
four  hundred  feet  from  the  Court  House.  All  the  intermediate  space  was  crowded 
with  his  hearers." 


HIS   TOUR    FROM    NEW    YORK    TO    SAVANNAH.  1 29 

WHITEFIELD's    farewell    TO    PHILADELPHIA. 

With  his  family  affairs  adjusted,  with  "  many  poor  sin- 
ners" hopefully  converted,  and  "great  numbers  powerfully  con- 
victed," in  and  about  Philadelphia,  he  says,  "  People  are  con- 
tinually coming  in,  and  inquiring  with  strong  crying  and  many 
tears,  how  to  come  to  Jesus.  It  grieves  me  to  send  them  away 
with  such  short  answers,  but  necessity  compels  me."  Where- 
upon he  prayed,  "  Speak  to  them  Thyself,  O  Son  of  God,  by  Thy 
blessed  Spirit."  After  preaching  in  the  morning  to  a  thronged 
congregation,  as  he  was  going  in  to  dinner,  a  German  came  up 
to  him  saying,  "  Thou  didst  sow  some  good  seed  yesterday  in 
Germantown,  and  a  grain  of  it  fell  into  my  daughter's  heart. 
She  wants  to  speak  with  thee,  that  she  may  know  what  she 
must  do  to  keep  and  increase  it."  At  her  father's  request 
she  came  up,  and  they  both  melted  into  tears  immediately. 
Giving  her  a  word  in  season,  he  went  on,  praying  that  God 
would  water  the  seed  sown  in  her  heart. 

It  was  given  out  in  the  morning,  November  29,  that  he  would 
preach  his  farewell  sermon  in  the  afternoon.  They  met  at  the 
church,  but  it  being  too  small  to  hold  one-fourth  of  the  people, 
they  repaired  to  the  fields,  where  he  preached  for  an  hour  and 
a  half  to  over  10,000  very  deeply  affected  hearers.  They  wept 
bitterly.  He  says,  "  It  quite  melted  me  down  to  see  with 
what  eagerness  and  earnest  affection  they  follow  after  the 
preaching  of  the  word.  If  I  could  preach  I  believe  they  would 
attend  all  day  long.  What  a  grand,  encouraging  sight !  O, 
how  such  zeal  should  stir  every  Christian's  soul." 

Cheered  by  a  very  affectionate  and  encouraging  letter  from 
Dr.  Pemberton  of  New  York,  describing  the  powerful  effects 
of  his  labors  there,  he  exclaimed,  "Blessed  be   God   for  such 

success  in  New  York!'     And  with  the  numerous  conversions, 
9 


130  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

big  congregations,  and  the  great  demand  for 'his  printed  ser- 
mons and  journals,  the  work  in  Philadelphia  seemed  to  be 
much  greater.  Touched  with  compassion,  they  brought 
him  large  quantities  of  butter,  sugar,  chocolate,  pickles,  cheese, 
and  flour  for  his  poor  orphans.  The  people  thronged  his  door 
for  hours  before  he  started,  and  when  he  left,  they  wept  most 
bitterly.  Like  the  Galatians  with  Paul,  they  seemed  almost 
willing  to  pluck  out  their  own  eyes  and  give  them  to  him.  As 
he  left  the  city  about  twenty  gentlemen  accompanied  him  on 
horses,  and  about  two  hundred  more  came  out  seven  miles 
from  Chester  to  welcome  him  to  their  hospitalities.  Sending 
his  family  and  supplies  to  Savannah  in  a  sloop  by  sea,  he  and 
Mr.  Seward  endured  the  hardness  of  going  across  by  land. 

Hurrying  on,  he  preached  the  next  day  to  about  5,000  at 
Chester,  near  1,000  of  whom  went  (fifteen  miles)  from  Philadel- 
phia. The  court  being  in  session  there,  adjourned  to  hear  him. 
Here  he  declined  many  most  pressing  invitations  to  visit  other 
places. 

After  preaching  at  Wilmington  and  Newcastle,  he  reached 
Whiteclay  Creek  December  2,  where  he  preached  with  great 
power  for  an  hour  and  a  half  to  over  10,000  very  deeply  im- 
pressed hearers.  Although  the  day  was  very  wet,  he  preached 
the  second  time  at  the  same  meeting,  and  "  many  were  very 
much  melted  down."  The  next  day  brought  him  to  North  East, 
Maryland,  where  he  preached  with  a  veiy  good  effect  to  a  con- 
gregation of  1,500,  collected  in  a  very  short  time.  On  the  6th 
he  reached  Annapolis,  and  was  very  kindly  received  by  Gover- 
nor Ogle  and  Mr.  Sterling,  the  minister  of  the  parish,  who  kindly 
offered  him  his  pulpit  and  did  everything  he  could  to  accommo- 
date him.  After  dining  with  the  governor  he  preached  twice 
the  next  day,  to  small  polite  congregations,  and  warned  them 
effectually    against  "  cards  and   dancing,"      The  governor  sus- 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH.       I3I 

pended  his  court  to  attend.  He  said,  "  Cards,  dancing,  and  such  \/ 
like,  draw  the  soul  from  Christ  and  lull  it  to  sleep,  as  much  as 
drunkenness  and  debauchery."  Convinced  of  his  sins,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sterling  wept  freely  and  begged  an  interest  in  White- 
field's  prayers.  He  effectually  warned  the  people  of  their  sin- 
ful amusements,  such  as  cards  and  dancing,  and  moved  with 
compassion,  .said,  "  It  grieves  me  to  my  soul  to  see  poor  sinners 
hanging,  as  it  were,  by  a  single  hair,  and  dancing  over  the 
flames  of  hell." 

The  next  move  brought  him  to  Upper  Marlborough,  where 
he  preached  and  "  found  the  people  in  a  dead  sleep."  Yet 
refreshed  and  lifted  up  in  sweet  communion  with  God,  he  said, 
"  all  true  Christians  carry  heaven  in  their  hearts."  Taking  a 
little  lunch  at  Port  Tobacco,  they  reached  the  Potomac  and 
tried  to  ferry  it,  but  owing  to  a  severe  gale  they  had  to  go 
back  and  stay  all  night  with  the  ferryman.  Bidding  farewell 
to  Maryland,  he  hastened  over  to  the  Province  of  old 

VIRGINIA, 

and  reached  Seal's  church  on  the  nth,  but  being  very  wet, 
and  finding  no  hotel,  they  stayed  all  night  with  an  overseer, 
who  furnished  them  with  a  good  fire,  some  meat,  milk,  and 
johnny-cake,  which  was  very  thankfully  received.  Stopping  at 
.some  intermediate  points,  he  reached  Williamsburg  on  the 
14th,  and  by  invitation  dined  with  the  governor,  who  received 
him  most  courteously.  He  called  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blair, 
commissary  of  Virginia,  and  found  him  one  of  the  most  worthy 
clergymen  he  had  met  with  in  America.  He  received  him 
gladly  and  invited  him  to  preach.  He  had  established  a  good 
college  in  Williamsburg,  and  it  rejoiced  Mi-.  Whitefield  to  see 
such  an  institution  in  America.  He  said  it  would  be  of  great 
use,  "  if  learning  Christ  be  the  foundation  of  .studv."     Here  he 


132  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

preached  Sabbath  morning  with  good  effect.  Several  gentlemen 
came  fourteen  miles  to  hear  him.  At  the  printer's  request,  he 
g\;\  o  him  leave  to  print  his  journals  and  sermons  for  the  benefit 
of  the  people.  At  one  place  they  took  him  to  be  a  Quaker  be- 
cause he  spoke  of  regeneration.  Whereupon  he  said,  "  If  I  talk 
of  the  Spirit  I  am  a  Quaker,  if  I  say  grace  at  meals  and  be- 
have serious,  I  am  a  Presbyterian.  Alas  !  what  must  I  do  to 
be  accounted  an  Episcopalian  ?"  Being  favorably  impressed 
with  the  kindness  and  hospitality  of  the  Virginians,  he  passed 
over  into 

NORTH    CAROLINA, 

and  was  most  kindly  received  by  Colonel  O — n.  They  had 
heard  of  Whitefield,  and  they  could  hardly  do  enough  for  him. 
Mrs.  O — n  was  exceedingly  kind.  The  next  day,  after  feeding 
their  horses,  and  eating  their  lunch  in  the  woods,  with  great 
joy,  they  reached  Edenton,  and  were  comfortably  entertained 
at  a  hotel. 

Starting  at  day-break,  after  a  pleasant  j"ide  of  fifty 
miles,  they  reached  Bathtown  and  found  it  surrounded  with 
howling  wolves.  Here  he  preached  the  following  Sabbath  to  a 
congregation  of  about  one  hundred  (five  times  the  usual  num- 
ber), and  one  poor  woman  came  up  to  him  desiring  his  prayers. 
Christmas  Eve  brought  him  to  Newbern  where  he  received  the 
Sacrament  and  preached  the  next  day  with  great  power  in  the 
Court  House.  "  Most  of  the  congregation  were  melted  into 
tears."  Here  he  was  grieved  to  see  the  minister  encouraging 
dancing,  and  to  find  a  dancing-master  in  eveiy  little  town. 
"  Such  sinful  entertainments,"  he  said,  "  enervate  the  minds  of 
the  people,  and  insensibly  lead  them  into  effeminacy  and  ruin." 

Having  enjoyed  a  very  happy  Christmas  at  Newbern,  after 
conversing  with  his  host,  "  I  went  as  my  usual  custom  is  (he 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH.       1 33 

says)  among  the  negroes  belonging  to  the  house.  One  was  in 
bed  sick,  and  two  of  his  children  said  their  prayers  after  me 
very  well.  This  more  and  more  convinces  me  that  the  negro 
children,  if  brought  up  right,  would  make  as  great  progress  as 
any  white  children  whatsoever."  "  Lord,  thou  hast  put  it  into 
my  heart  to  educate  them;  I  doubt  not  but  Thou  wilt  enable 
me  to  do  it."  Lunching  by  the  way  as  usual,  he  reached  Ncw- 
tou'Ji  on  the  28th,  and  preached  twice  the  next  day  in  the  Court 
House,  to  good  sized  congregations,  with  a  fine  impression. 
And  observing  many  Scotch  in  the  congregation  who  had  come 
over  to  settle  in  North  Carolina,  he  urged  upon  them  the  im- 
portance of  setting  a  good  example,  and  thus  let  their  light 
shine  in  a  dark  place.  They  did  much  in  forming  the  religious 
character  of  the  State.  Sometimes  they  found  the  swamps 
and  creeks  so  deep  that  they  had  to  swim  their  horses.  Praying 
that  "  he  might  learn  to  endure  any  pain,  despise  any  shame, 
and  submit  to  any  difficulties,"  for  Christ's  sake,  he  crossed  over 
into 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

"  Here,"  he  says,  "  I  immediately  perceived  the  people  were 
more  polite;"  and  after  riding  a  few  miles,  on  January  I,  1740, 
he  put  up  at  a  hotel,  and  fell  in  upon  a  country  dancing  party. 
Advised  by  his  friends,  he  went  in  among  them ;  and  after 
much  earnest  persuasion,  "  Christ  triumphed  over  Satan,"  and 
they  were  all  put  to  silence,  and  so  overawed,  that  after  a  short 
talk  on  the  nature  of  Baptism  and  the  necessity  of  Regenera- 
tion, he  baptized  one  of  their  children  and  closed  with  an 
appropriate  prayer. 

Rising  very  early  next  morning,  after  singing,  praying  and 
reproving  the  dancers  (kindly  received),  they  mounted  their 
horses  and  started  by  day-break  for  Charleston.     Hurrying  on, 


134  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

they  missed  the  way,  and  were  much  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  a 
crowd  of  negroes  dancing  around  a  big  fire  on  the  roadside. 
They  reached  Charleston  on  the  5th,  and  were  very  kindly  en- 
tertained at  Mr.  L.'s,  where  he  received  letters  and  papers  from 
New  York,  informing  him  "how  mightily  the  word  of  God 
grew  and  prevailed  there."  He  now  soon  found  that,  by  field- 
preaching,  he  had  lost  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Gardner,  the  commis- 
sary, who  once  promised  "to  defend  him  with  life  and  fortune;" 
and  being  denied  his  pulpit,  he  preached  in  the  Independent 
church  to  a  large  and  gay  audience,  "  but  was  grieved  to  find 
so  little  concern  in  the  congregation."  "  The  affected  finery 
and  gayety  of  dress,"  he  said,  "  was  equal  to  that  of  London." 
At  their  earnest  request,  he  preached  again  on  Monday,  in  the 
French  Church,  to  a  veiy  crowded  house,  ''with  a  glorious  alter- 
ation ill  the  aiidiencey  Their  levity  was  turned  into  serious- 
ness. Many  were  melted  into  tears.  Some  of  the  gayest 
wept.  Powerfully  convicted,  one  came  begging  an  interest  in 
his  prayers,  and  praying  for  his  success.  When  ready  to  start, 
at  their  most  urgent  request,  he  went  back  and  gave  them 
another  sermon. 

HIS    MANNER    OF    PREACHING. 

Here  he  formed  an  intimate  friendship  with  Rev.  Joseph 
Smith  (Independent),  who,  in  his  sermon  from  Job  xxxii.  17, 
gave  the  foUpwing  description  of  his  inaujier  of  preaching : 
"  He  is  certainly  a  finished  preacher.  A  noble  negligence  ran 
through  his  style.  The  passion  and  flame  of  his  expressions 
will,  I  trust,  be  long  felt  by  many.  My  pen  cannot  describe 
his  action  and  gesture,  in  all  their  strength  and  decencies.  He 
appeared  to  me  in  all  his  discourses,  very  deeply  affected  and 
impressed  in  his  own  heart.  How  did  that  burn  and  boil 
within    him,    when    he    spake    of    the    things    he    had    made 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  SAVANNAH.       1 35 

'  touching  the  king !'  How  was  his  tongue  Hke  the  pen  of  a 
ready  writer,  touched  as  with  a  coal  from  the  ahar !  With 
what  a  flow  of  words — what  a  ready  profusion  of  language — did 
he  speak  to  us  upon  the  great  concerns  of  our  souls  !  In  what 
a  flaming  light  did  he  set  our  eternity  before  us !  How  earn- 
estly he  pressed  Christ  upon  us !  How  did  he  move  our 
passions  with  the  constraining  love  of  such  a  Redeemer !  The 
awe — the  silence — the  attention  which  sat  upon  the  face  of  the 
great  audience,  was  an  argument  how  he  could  reign  over  all 
their  powers.  Many  thought  he  spoke  as  never  man  spoke 
before  him.  So  charmed  were  the  people  with  his  manner  of 
address,  that  they  shut  up  their  shops,  forgot  their  secular  busi- 
ness, and  laid  aside  their  schemes  for  the  world ;  and  the 
oftener  he  preached,  the  keener  edge  he  seemed  to  put  upon 
their  desires  to  hear  him  again. 

"  How  awfully — ^with  what  thunder  and  sound — did  he  dis- 
charge the  artili.  .y  of  heaven  upon  us  !  And  yet,  how  could 
he  soften  and  melt  even  a  soldier  of  Ulysses,  with  the  mercy 
of  God  !  How  close,  strong,  and  pungent  were  his  applications 
to  the  conscience ;  mingling  light  and  heat ;  pointing  the 
arrows  of  the  Almighty  at  the  hearts  of  sinners,  while  he 
poured  in  the  balm  upon  the  wounds  of  the  contrite,  and  made 
broken  bones  rejoice.  Eternal  themes,  the  tremendous  solem- 
nities of  our  religion,  were  all  alive  upon  his  tongue !  So  me- 
thinks  (if  you  will  forgive  the  figure)  St.  Paul  would  look  and 
speak  in  a  pulpit.  In  some  such  manner  I  am  tempted  to  con- 
ceive of  a  seraph,  were  he  sent  down  to  preach  among  us,  and 
tell  us  what  things  he  had  seen  and  heard  above. 

"How  bold  and  courageous  did  he  look!  He  was  no 
flatterer ;  would  not  suffer  men  to  settle  on  their  lees ;  did  not 
prophesy  smooth  things,  nor  sew  pillows.  He  taught  the  way 
of  God  in  truth,  and  regarded  not  the  person  of  man.     He 


136  LIFE    OF    VVHITEFIELD. 

Struck  at  the  politest  and  most  modish  of  our  vices,  and  at  the 
most  fasionable  entertainments,  regardless  of  every  one's  pre- 
sence, but  His  in  whose  name  he  spake  with  this  authority. 
And  I  dare  warrant,  if  none  should  go  to  these  diversions, 
until  they  have  answered  the  solemn  questions  he  put  to  their 
conscience,  our  theatre  would  soon  sink  and  perish.  I  freely 
own  he  has  taken  my  heart !"  Mr.  Smith  says  Charleston 
contributed  £600  on  Whitefield's  return  for  the  Orphan 
House. 

WHITEFIELD   SAILING    IN    A    CANOE. 

Much  encouraged  with  the  good  work  begun  in  Charles- 
ton, "  Januaiy  8,  1740,  he  rose  a  good  while  before  day,  and 
jd/  o/{i  for  Savannah  in  an  open  canoe,  rowed  by  five  negro 
slaves."  On  their  way,  the  first  night  they  laid  on  the  ground, 
in  the  woods,  by  a  big  fire  which  kept  off  wild  beasts;  an 
emblem,  he  thought,  "  of  God's  love  and  presence,  keeping  off 
evils  from  the  soul."  "A  little  after  midnight,"  he  says,  "  we 
prayed  with  the  negroes,  took  to  the  boat  again,  and  reached 
Savannah  the  next  day,"  January  10,  where  he  had  a  very  happy 
meeting  with  his  friends,  who  had  been  waiting  for  him  three 
weeks.  Elated  with  late  letters  from  England  and  New  York, 
he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God,  the  work  of  our  dear  Emman- 
uel is  powerfully  carrying  on.  Ere  long  I  expect  mighty 
things  will  be  brought  to  pass."  Yet  "  he  found  Georgia  much 
deserted  and  depressed."  After  visiting  his  Savannah  friends, 
he  went  and  preached  at  Frederica,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  in- 
terview with  General  Oglethorpe,  who  gave  him  a  check  for 
^^150  to  build  a  church  in  Savannah.  Here  he  married  a 
couple  and  baptized  a  child. 

On  his  return  to  Savannah  he  preached  at  Darien,  and 
established  a  school  there.     He  went  by  Bethesda,  and  laid 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  YORK.  TO  SAVANNAH.        1 3/ 

out  in  the  woods  two  nights  on  the  way.  Refreshed  with 
late  letters  from  New  York,  and  pleased  with  the  improve- 
ments at  Bethesda,  he  took  horse  and  came  home  to  his 
dear  family  at  Savannah,  who  received  him  with  great  joy. 
After  attending  the  funeral  of  one  of  the  ladies  that  came 
over  with  him,  he  went  to  Charleston  to  see  his  brother,  late 
from  England,  who  had  brought  him  a  package  of  letters  from 
his  friends.  ■* 

Accompanied  by  his  brother  and  other  friends,  he  then  called 
to  see  his  old  friend  Rev.  Mr.  Garden,  who,  though  he  had  for- 
merly promised  "  to  defend  him  with  his  life  and  fortune,"  now 
gave  him  a  veiy  cold  reception,  and  "  charged  him  with  en- 
thusiasm and  pride,  for  speaking  against  the  clergy  generally," 
and  requested  him  to  prove  his  charges.  Whereupon  White- 
field  said,  "  I  thought  I  had  done  that  already."  He  then  asked 
Mr.  Whitefield,  "  Wherein  were  the  clergy  so  much  to  blame?" 
"  For  not  preaching  up  Justification  by  Faith  alone."  Mr. 
Garden  then  charged  Whitefield  with  breaking  the  rules  of  the 
church  and  his  ordination  vows,  and  "in  a  great  rage  told  him  if 
he  preached  any  more  in  any  public  church,  he  would  suspend 
him."  Whitefield  replied,  "  I  shall  regard  that  as  much  as  I 
would  a  Pope's  Bull."  Seeing  that  Mr.  Garden  applied  the 
charge  to  himself,  Whitefield  said,  "  Let  me  ask  you  one  ques- 
tion. Have  you  delivered  your  soul  by  exclaiming  against 
the  parties  and  balls  here  ?"  With  his  indignation  rising,  he 
exclaimed,  "  What  Sir,  must  you  come  to  catechise  me  ? 
No,"  said  he,  "  I  have  not  exclaimed  against  them ;  I  think 
there  is  no  harm  in  them."  "  Then,  Sir,"  said  Whitefield,  "  I 
shall  think  it  my  duty  to  exclaim  against  you."  "  Then,  Sir," 
replied  he  (in  a  very  great  Ydigo),'^  get  you  out  of  my  house." 
Whitefield  bowed  himself  out,  pitying  Mr.  Garden  and  express- 


138  LIFE    OF   VVHITEFIELD. 

ing  his  surprise  and  sorrow  to  receive  such  treatment  from  a 
ministerial  brother. 

Having  visited  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  and  preached 
a  few  more  sermons  to  the  Charleston  people,  the  interest  so 
much  increased,  that  during  his  farewell  sermon  many  came 
weeping  and  inquiring  what  to  do  to  be  saved. 


CHAPTER    XIV, 


(Q/^^T^sli^ll^  vvhitefield's  orphan  house. 
At'vrmi^  OVED  with  compassion  at  the  sight  of  so 
many  poor  orphans  on  his  first  visit  to  Amer- 
ica, Whitefield  determined  to  estabhsh  an 
Orphan  House.  It  was  first  proposed  to  him 
by  Rev.  Charles  Wesley,  who,  with  General 
Oglethorpe,  had  conceived  it  before  Whitefield 
left  England.  Convinced  of  its  necessity  and 
promising  utility,  with  a  plan  matured  and 
fixed  in  his  mind,  modeled  somewhat  after  that  of  Professor 
PVanke,  of  Halle,  Germany,  he  hurried  back  to  England  to  raise 
funds  to  go  on  with  it.  Before  starting  he  hired  a  house 
and  provided  for  the  poor  orp>hans  then  in  and  about  Savannah. 
On  his  return  to  England,  he  found  much  sympathy  in 
favor  of  the  Orphan  House.  Sometimes  the  contributions  were 
so  large,  that  he  received  more  money  at  one  collection  for  it, 
than  one  man  could  carry.  While  in  London  he  visited  the 
trustees  of  Georgia,  who  received  him  very  kindly,  and  granted 
him  500  acres  of  land  for  it.  Encouraged  with  this  grant,  and 
"  believing  that  God  had  put  it  into,  his  heart  to  build  an 
Orphan  House,"  he  now  set  about  it  with  renewed  zeal.  He 
traveled  through  England  to  raise  funds  for  it,  and  the  people 
gave  with  such  eagerness  and  liberality,  that  in  less  than  a  year 
he  collected  over  1,000  pounds  sterling,  with  which  he  left 
England  for  Georgia,  August  iith,  1739,  accompanied  by  eight 

men  and  three  boys  as  a  nucleus  for  the  Orphan  House. 

(139) 


140  Life  of  WHITEFIELD. 

On  Mr.  Whitefield's  second  arrival  at  Savannah,  he  went, 
January  11,  1740,  to  view  the  tract  of  land  consisting  of  500 
acres,  which  Mr.  Habersham  (whom  he  left  as  the  Savannah 
school-master)  had  selected  for  the  Orphan  House,  situated 
about  nine  miles  from  Savannah,  with  a  variety  of  soil,  and 
a  few  acres  cleared  and  "stocked  with  cattle  and  poultry."  He 
was  well  pleased  with  it.  After  taking  in  three  distressed  Ger- 
man orphans,  on  the  30th,  with  the  plan  of  the  main  building 
devised,  to  be  two  stories  high,  60  by  40  feet,  with  about 
twenty  windows,  besides  a  small  work-house,  an  infirmary  and 
apothecary,  he  went  out  and  laid  out  the  foundation.  And 
with  his  strong  faith  he  says,  "  I  find  it  will  be  an  expensive 
work.  But  it  is  for  the  Lord,  and  He  will  take  care  to  defray 
all  charges.  We  have  Omnipotence  for  our  support."  Again 
he  says,  "  I  had  rather  live  by  faith,  and  depend  on  God  for  its 
support,  than  to  have  the  largest  visible  fund  in  the  universe." 

Built  as  an  institution  of  charity,  both  for  the  soul  and 
body  of  the  orphan,  he  called  it  Bethesda,  a  house  of  mercy. 
It  was  Whitefield's  "hobby,"  and  has  been  considered  his  "great 
work  in  America."  A  popular  object  to  beg  for,  it  seemed  to 
aid  in  giving  him  access  to  the  people's  hearts,  and  to  help  him 
on  in  his  labors.  He  says,  "  It  was  one  great  means  in  God's 
hand,  in  bringing  me  out  to  preach  the  gospel  in  so  many 
places,  and  to  so  many  thousands  of  poor  perishing  souls." 
And  animated  with  his  success,  he  says,  "  God  is  doing  great 
things  in  America,"  and  "the  affairs  of  the  orphan  house  are  in 
great  forwardness." 

'  Having  visited  General  Oglethorpe,  his  old  friends  and  con- 
gregations, and  established  a  school  at  Darien,  he  started 
thence  to  Bethesda,  and  laid  out  in  the  woods  two  nights  on 
his  way. 

On  Monday,  March  17,  while  visiting  his  brother,  captain 


3rn     T'  C-,'^'  •■■>_ 


'm^M0:rni 


fi  niri^ 


NEW    ORPHAN    HOUSE. 


whitefield's  orphan   house. 


WHITEFIELD  S    ORPHAN    HOUSE.  I4I 

of  an  English  ship,  at  Charleston,  he  preached  in  Rev.  Mr. 
Smith's  church,  and,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  people,  he  took 
the  first  collection,  ^350,  for  the  Orphan  House  in  America. 
This  very  liberal  contribution  was  the  largest  he  had  yet  re- 
ceived for  this  purpose,  and  in  it,  says  Whitefield,  "God  has 
given  me  an  earnest  of  what  He  will  do  in  America."  Encour- 
aged with  this  big  collection,  he  went,  March  25,  1740,  and 
with  full  assurance  of  faith,  laid  the  first  brick  of  the  Orphan 
House,  with  the  solemnities  of  praise,  prayer,  and  an  exhorta- 
tion. With  near  forty  orphans  and  about  sixty  hands  engaged, 
the  great  work  went  on  rapidly.  And  with  a  few  hopeful  con- 
versions already  among  the  children,  he  prayed,  "  Set  Thy 
Almighty  _/?«/ to  it,  O  gracious  Father." 

And  now  with  one  hundred  mouths  to  feed,  and  with  his 
funds  almost  exhausted,  though  feeble  in  health,  he  hurried 
back  to  Philadelphia  and  New  York  to  raise  more  funds.  At 
Philadelphia  he  preached  one  Sabbath  morning  at  seven  o'clock 
to  a  congregation  of  about  10,000,  and  collected  $^^0.  At 
New  York  he  received  over  ;^  1,500,  and  when  he  returned 
home  to  Savannah,  June  5,  he  had  over  ;^2,500  for  the  Orphan 
House, 

By  this  time  his  family,  including  the  workmen,  numbered 
nearly  150;  and  although  he  was  often  almost  out  of  funds, 
yet,  with  his  strong  faith  in  God,  he  never  became  discouraged. 
To  meet  this  increased  demand,  after  repeated  pressing  invita- 
tions, late  in  August  he  set  out  for  New  England  to  replenish 
the  treasury  of  Bethesda.  He  reached  there  about  the  middle 
of  September,  and  collected  over  ^2,600  in  a  few  days.  At 
one  collection  when  he  preached  in  Boston  Common,  to  15,000 
people,  he  received  over  ;$ 1, 000.  And  with  his  purse  swelled 
to  near  ^4,000,  backed  by  the  prayers  and  warm  sympathies  of 
his  Now  Knoland  friends,  renewed  in  strength,  after  an  excur- 


142  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

sion  of  three  months,  he  returned  to  Charleston,  December  i, 
filled  with  gratitude  and  joy.  And  when  he  reached  Bethesda, 
December  14,  1740,  and  saw  the  prosperity  of  the  dear  little 
orphans,  his  joy  was  greatly  increased.  Covered  with  a  debt 
of  ;^i,ooo,  the  care  of  Bethesda  now  gave  him  more  concern 
than  every  thing  else  put  together.  But  says  he,  "/  hang  upon 
yes7tsr  And  after  arranging  his  affairs  to  raise  more  funds 
and  to  secure  "«  help-meet','  he  again  sailed  for  Europe,  January 
16,  1 74 1,  and  in  one  visit  to  Scotland  he  collected  over  i5"5,ooo 
more  for  the  Orphan  House. 

There  were  now  about  seventy  children  in  the  Orphan 
House,  and  a  friend  from  Boston  describes  "  the  routine  of 
family  duty  as  follows  :  The  bell  rings  in  the  morning  at  sun- 
rise to  wake  the  family.  When  the  children  arise,  they  sing  a 
short  hymn,  pray  by  themselves,  go  down  to  wash,  and  by  the 
time  they  have  done  that,  the  bell  calls  to  family  worship. 
They  then  breakfast,  and  afterwards  some  go  to  their  trades 
and  the  rest  to  school.  With  a  comfortable  and  wholesome 
diet,  a  hymn  is  sung  before  and  after  dinner." 

They  had  four  teachers,  two  men  for  the  boys  and  two 
ladies  for  the  girls.  Some  of  the  more  serious  boys  studied 
Latin  with  a  view  to  the  ministry.  This  was  the  condition  of 
it  January  i,  1742.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Coleman  of  Boston  says 
about  this  time,  "The  order  and  piety  of  the  Orphan  House  is 
admirable,  and  so  is  the  progress  of  the  settlement." 

Mr.  Whitefield's  plan  at  first  was  to  take  in  only  twenty 
children,  but  when  he  came  to  Georgia  and  saw  so  many  suffer- 
ing orphans,  he  altered  his  notion ;  and  he  soon  had  about  fifty 
under  his  care — twenty-three  English,  ten  Scots,  four  Dutch, 
five  French,  and  seven  American.  Twenty-two  of  these  were 
parentless — sixteen  boys  and  six  girls,  and  one  infant.  The 
children  were  taught  to  work,  as  well  as  "  to  seek  first  the  king- 


Whitefield's  orphan  house.  143 

dom  of  God  and  His  righteousness."  Having  founded  the 
Orphan  House  mainly  to  save  souls,  Whitefield  says,  "  I  en- 
deavor to  preach  to  the  children's  hearts."  He  taught  thcni 
the  Episcopal  Catechism.  Besides  the  trials  in  putting  up  the 
buildings,  the  Spainards  came  and  stole  a  schooner  loaded 
with  10,000  bricks  and  a  large  supply  of  provisions.  Yet  trust- 
ing in  the  Lord,  on  one  occasion,  when  they  were  almost  out  of 
provisions,  the  Indians  supplied  them  with  deer.  Endeavoring 
to  raise  their  own  provisions,  they  had,  at  one  time,  near  200 
head  of  hogs  and  lOO  head  of  cattle.  They  made  part  of  their 
own  clothing. 

REVIVAL    IN    THE    ORPHAN    HOUSE. 

Although  Satan  raged  against  the  Orphan  House,  the 
Spirit  of  God  strove  with  the  orphans.  Soon  after  a  few  were 
gathered  in,  the  power  of  God  was  felt  among  them,  and  con- 
versions soon  became  quite  frequent.  By  the  last  of  March, 
1741,  many  were  inquiring  what  to  do  to  be  saved.  The  boys, 
both  big  and  little,  "cried  mightily  to  God  to  have  mercy  on 
them."  One  day  while  they  were  together,  talking  about  God 
and  eternity,  the  Spirit  came  upon  them  with  such  great  power 
that  they  were  enabled  to  pray  so  earnestly  that  they  arrested 
the  attention  of  the  family,  "who  all  went,  saw  and  wept  over 
^bout  thirty  of  them  upon  their  knees,  pleading  with  God  foi 
salvation."  All  became  very  serious,  and  the  work  resulted  in 
several  hopeful  conversions. 

With  the  Orphan  House  and  other  outbuildings  now  (Sep- 
tember, 1 741,)  completed,  with  a  family  of  eighty-four  and  one 
hundred  and  five  in  all  to  support,  although  they  had  "  no 
visible  fund,"  yet  trusting  in  God  for  supplies,  everything  went 
on  finely. 

Negro  labor  not  being  allowed,  improvements  were  very 


144  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

expensive.  This  year  they  had  twenty  acres  in  corn,  and 
cleared  twenty  more.  A  httle  later  in  the  season,  Mr.  Haber- 
sham says,  "We  live  entirely  within  ourselves.  Twice  a  day 
we  eat  hominy  of  our  own  raising,  and  at  present  without 
molasses."     They  had  a  good  garden. 

While  things  were  thus  progressing  at  the  Orphan  House, 
"  The  Spaniards  came  in  upon  them  like  a  flood,"  and  sadly 
disturbed  their  peace.  Moved  with  compassion,  Mr.  Haber- 
sham gathered  up  the  little  orphans  and  his  family,  and  fled  for 
protection   to  Mr.    Bryan,   a  rich  planter  in  South  Carolina. 

And  now,  with  the  waves  of  trouble  arising  around  about 
them,  Mr.  H.  says,  "Were  it  not  for  a  persuasion  that  God  will 
help  us,  we  must  sink  under  the  prospect  of  impending  difficul- 
ties." On  rolled  the  fiery  trial,  and  at  the  approach  of  a  large 
Spanish  fleet,  they  observed  a  day  of  fasting,  and  earnestly  be- 
sought God  what  to  do.  But  General  Oglethorpe  was  soon 
so  com.pletely  surrounded  with  the  enemy,  that  he  sunk  sloops 
of  provisions,  burnt  the  huts  and  houses  on  St.  Simon's  Island, 
and  retreated  to  Frederica.  But  with  his  characteristic  sagacity 
Oglethorpe  soon  rallied  his  forces,  conquered  and  drove  off  the 
Spaniards,  and  early  in  August,  1742,  the  Orphan  Band,  with 
grateful  hearts,  returned  to  Bethesda,  feeling  that  God,  through 
the  general,  had  wrought  for  them  a  glorious  deliverance. 

Rising  out  of  this  severe  trial,  the  Orphan  House,  like  the 
Burning  Bush,  though  burnt,  still  flourished  unconsumed. 
And  with  his  heroic  devotion,  Mr.  Whitefield  now  labored  for 
it  more  earnestly  than  ever,  determined,  he  says,  "  to  be  sold  a 
slave  to  serve  the  galleys,  rather  than  see  his  orphans  suffer." 
In  one  of  his  letters  to  Mr.  H.,  Whitefield  wrote,  "  I  long  to  be 
with  you,  and  methinks  I  could  willingly  be  found  at  the  head 
of  you  kneeling  and  praying,  though  a  Spanish  sword  should 
be  put  to  my  throat." 


WHITEFIELUS    ORPHAN    HOUSE.  I45 

On  his  return  from  Europe,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  that  many 
of  the  orphan  boys  had  been  put  out  to  trades,  and  many  of 
the  girls  hired  out  to  work.  With  their  farm  quite  well  stocked, 
in  1744,  he  says,  "We  hope  to  kill  one  thousand  weight  of 
pork  this  season."  The  family  was  now  reduced  to  twenty-six. 
Two  boys  were  blind. 

Reduced  in  health,  and  "weighed  down"  with  care  and  the 
indebtedness  of  Bethesda,  advised  by  friends,  in  March,  1748, 
Mr.  Whitefield  sailed  for  Bermudas  for  tlie  recovery  of  his 
health.  But  ever  mindful  of  his  poor  orphans,  he  soon  raised 
over  one  hundred  pounds  for  them  there.  But  failing  to  re- 
cover his  health  there,  instead  of  returning  home,  he  now  made 
another  voyage  to  Europe,  and  reached  London  July  6th,  1748, 
after  an  absence  of  near  four  years. 

Having  succeeded  so  well  with  the  Oiphan  House,  in  1748 
he  conceived  the  idea  of  making  it  more  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing, and  in  1750  "we  find  him  laboring  in  England  to  make 
Bethesda  a  college."  In  175 1  he  again  visited  this  country 
and  brought  over  several  more  orphans — but  finding  the 
Orphan  House  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  he  soon  re- 
turned to  Europe. 

Having  received  "  pretty  letters  from  several  of  the  little 
orphans,"  he  said,  January  10,  1753  (in  London),  "I  trust  Beth- 
esda will  yet  prove  an  useful  seminaiy  for  both  white  and 
black  persons." — Letter  857. 

In  1754  he  visited  Bethesda  again,  and  finding  everything 
going  well,  he  made  another  trip  North  to  raise  more  funds  ; 
but  his  health  failing,  he  soon  hurried  back,  and  early  in  1755, 
embarked  again  for  Europe.  Buoyant  with  the  prospect  of 
success,  he  returned  to  Bethesda  again  the  following  fall,  and 
says,  "  Peace  and  plenty  reign  here,  and  all  things  go  on  suc- 
cessful."    "  God  has  given  me  great  favor  in  the  sight  of  the 

lO 


146  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

Governor,  Council  and  Assembly,"  and  they  gave  him  another 
grant  of  2,000  acres  of  land  for  the  Orphan  House.  Yet  with 
all  his  self-denying  efforts  and  fond  expectations,  because,  it 
seems,  Whitefield's  proposed  charter  did  not  require  the  presi- 
dent of  the  college  to  be  a  member  of  the  Established  Church 
of  England,  and  that  the  public  prayers  be  "  the  Liturgy  of  the 
Church,"  his  Majesty,  the  King,  refused  him  a  charter.  But 
as  the  principal  part  of  the  Orphan  House  collections  were 
from  Dissenters,  and  as  Mr.  Whitefield  had  publicly  declared 
from  the  pulpit  that  the  Institution  should  "  be  founded  on  a 
broad  bottom,"  he  could  not  conscientiously  make  it  exclusively 
an  Established  Church  College.  Thus  to  fail  was  discourag- 
ing. "  Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick."  Yet  it  did  not 
discourage  Whitefield.  Rallying  his  forces,  and  plucking  up 
couraere,  he  now  determined  to  make  Bethesda  a  first-class 
academy.  "  God  willing,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  intend  to  carry  on 
my  design  till  I  see  the  colony  sink  or  swim." 

Visiting  Bethesda  again  in  1 769,  he  reports  "  Everything 
exceeds  my  highest  expectation — it  is  good  for  me  to  be  here." 
This  year  two  large  wings,  each  150  feet  long,  were  added  to 
the  main  building.  Governor  Wright  laying  the  corner-stone. 

Invited  by  Mr.  Whitefield,  January  31,  1770,  the  Governor,. 
Council  and  Assembly  attended  divine  service  in  the  chapel  of 
the  Orphan  House  Academy,  when  he  preached  an  impressive 
sermon  on  "  Despise  not  the  day  of  small  things."  Having 
thus  faithfully  labored  to  establish  and  build  up  his  most 
cherished  institution,  and  having  given  it  his  undivided  atten- 
tion for  more  than  six  months,  his  health  so  failed  that  he  again 
went  North  to  recruit,  and  suddenly  died  at  his  post,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1770. 

But  conscious  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  he  had  "  set  his 
house  in  order,"  and  wisely  provided  for  Bethesda.     Fully  con 


WHITEFIELD  S    ORPHAN    HOUSE.  I47 

fiding  in  the  piety,  generosity,  and  ability,  of  the  Right  Honor- 
able Sehna,  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  Mr.  Whitefield  willed 
the  Orphan  House  and  all  its  affairs  to  her  care. 

Deeply  impressed  with  the  responsibility  in  assuming  such 
a  charge,  she  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  help 
and  direction,  and  immediately  sent  over  her  own  house- 
keeper to  manage  its  domestic  affairs.  In  1770  she  projected  a 
mission  to  this  country,  making  Bethesda  her  headquarters  ; 
to  carry  it  on  she  sent  over  a  number  of  students,  who  at  once 
entered  the  Orphan  House.  But  her  generous  plans  were  sud- 
denly arrested  by  the  destruction  of  the  Orphan  House  build- 
ings by  lightning.  But  with  her  characteristic  submission  she 
said,  "  Though  we  may  be  disappointed,  God,  the  Judge  of  all, 
is  not  defeated ;  I  cannot  wish  it  for  one  moment  to  be  other- 
wise." By  her  own  liberal  contributions,  assisted  by  others,  it 
was  soon  partially  rebuilt,  and  with  a  brief  interruption  of  some 
ten  years  at  Lady  Huntingdon's  death,  in  1791,  when  the 
estate  was  reclaimed  by  the  Legislature,  and  its  management 
committed  to  a  Board  of  Trustees,  the  institution  has  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time,  1 876,  carrying  out  the  original  de- 
sign of  its  benevolent  founder.  On  the  opposite  page  is  a  por- 
trait of  the  new  building  commenced  in  1870.  The  amount 
expended  for  the  Orphan  House  from  December,  1738,  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1770,  is  ;^ 1 5,404  2s.  5>i|d.,  over  ^77,020.  Whitefield 
contributed  to  it  over  ;$  16,000. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


HIS   SECOND    TOUR   TO    PENNSYLVANIA    AND    NEW    YORK. 

fd'^''  AVING  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Orphan 
;^  House,  and  being  in  need  of  more  funds  to 
"M  build  and  carry  it  on,  after  bidding  an  affection- 
'^'jf  ate  farewell  to  his  weeping  congregation  in 
^  j^  Savannah,  he  sailed  for  New  Castle,  Delaware, 
■\^^  April  3,  1740.  Though  weak  in  body  and  de- 
'^^^  pressed  in  spirit,  after  a  voyage  of  ten  days,  he 
reached  New  Castle  on  the  1 3th,  and  preached 
twice  the  same  day.  Attracted  by  his  eloquence  and  power, 
the  people  at  once  flocked  to  hear  him.  Rev.  Charles  Tennent, 
with  the  greater  part  of  his  congregation,  came  twenty  miles  to 
hear  the  afternoon  sermon.  Although  pressed  to  preach  in  the 
surrounding  towns,  yet  being  anxious  to  reach  Philadelphia  as 
soon  as  possible,  he  hurried  on,  preaching  by  the  way  at  Wil- 
mington the  next  day,  to  a  deeply  impressed  congregation  of 
near  3,000.  Here  they  gave  him  a  very  warm  reception  and 
thanked  God  for  his  return.  "  Numbers  embraced  him  with 
tenderest  affection."  Their  mutual  joy  in  meeting  again  was 
literally  unspeakable. 


WHITEFIELD    IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

Cheered  by  the  glorious  work  and  numerous  conversions 
of  both  laymen  and  ministers  at  Wilmington,  mounting  his 
horse  he  rode  to  Philadelphia  the  same  day,  and  was  rejoiced 
to  hear  how  the  Lord  had  blessed  them  during  his  absence. 

( 148) 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.    1 49 

After  paying  his  respects  to  the  Governor,  he  went  the  next 
day  to  see  the  Commissary,  who  soon  told  him  he  could  lend 
him  his  church  no  more.  ''Thanks  be  to  God,  tJie  fields  are 
open','  quickly  exclaimed  Whitefield,  and  8,000  went  to  hear 
him  on  Sandy  Hill  that  night,  and  10,000  the  next  day.  Con- 
victed of  their  sins,  many  flocked  to  him  inquiring  the  way  of 
life.  One  man  came  exclaiming,  "  Blessed  be  God,  for  under 
Him,  you  have  been  the  means  of  my  salvation."  "So  mightily 
grew  the  word  of  God  and  prevailed,"  that  "  many  negroes 
came  inquiring,  'Have  I  a  soul?'"  Societies  for  prayer  and 
conference  were  set  up  in  all  parts  of  the  city;  scoffers  were 
put  to  silence,  and  Satan's  strongholds  were  pulled  down. 
Says  Mr.  Seward,  "A  drinking  club  with  a  clergyman  in  it,  had 
a  negro  boy  attending  them,  who  used  to  mimic  people  for 
their  diversion.  Persuaded  by  the  gentlemen,  the  boy  (though 
reluctantly),  stood  up  and  mimicked  Whitefield,  and  said,  '  I 
speak  the  truth  in  Christ;  I  lie  not;  unless  you  repent  you  will 
all  be  damned.'  This  unexpected  speech  (quoted  from  one  of 
Mr.  Whitefield's  sermons),  broke  up  the  club,  which  has  never 
met  since." 

While  laboring  so  successfully  in  Philadelphia,  Mr.  White- 
field  neglected  not  the  surrounding  towns  and  villages.  On  the 
morning  of  the  17th  he  preached  at  Abington  to  some  4,000, 
and  in  the  evening  at  Philadelphia  to  upwards  of  10,000, 
hundreds  of  whom  were  powerfully  melted  down  and  many 
hopefully  converted.  The  next  day,  after  spending  two  hours 
with  the  convicted  in  the  morning,  he  rode  twelve  miles  and 
preached  at  Whitemarsh  to  over  2,000,  and  on  his  return  at 
Germantown  to  near  4,000  attentive  hearers,  and  got  back  to 
Philadelphia  by  seven  in  the  evening,  much  refreshed  both  in 
soul  and  body. 

Encouraged  now  with  the  fruits  of  his  former  labors  and 


150  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

the  present  bright  prospects,  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God, 
there  is  a  most  glorious  work  begun  in  this  province.  The 
word  of  God  mightily  prevails  every  day,  and  Satan  is  losing 
ground." 

On  April  19  he  preached  twice  in  Philadelphia  to  congre- 
gations of  seven  or  eight  thousand,  and  on  the  following  Sab- 
bath the  number  increased  to  10,000,  when  he  took  up  a  collec- 
tion of  ^i  10  for  his  orphans. 

After  sermon  he  went  to  hear  the  Commissaiy.  He 
preached  on  jfustification  by  Works,  from  James  ii.  18;  and  in 
the  evening  Whitefield  preached  on  the  same  text,  to  a  congre- 
gation of  some  15,000,  exposing  the  errors  of  the  Commissary, 
and  closed  with  a  collection  of  ^80  more  for  the  orphans. 

Whitefield,  like  Paul,  liked  to  preach  where  no  one  else 
preached,  and  having  ranged  the  suburbs  of  Philadelphia,  he 
gave  them  a  touching  farewell  sermon  in  the  city  Tuesday 
evening,  April  22,  to  about  10,000  hearers,  with  a  very  deep 
effect.  "  A  great  number  were  dissolved  into  tears  and  w^ept 
sorely."  And  seeing  so  "  many  negroes  were  so  much  affected," 
he  then  bought  5,000  acres  of  land  in  the  forks  of  the  Dela- 
ware for  a  school  for  their  instruction.  Here  he  purposed  to 
make  an  English  settlement.     He  called  the  place  Nazareth. 

On  his  return  from  New  York  he  stopped  again  at  Philadel- 
phia, May  8,  with  renewed  health  and  enlivened  spirits.  And 
says  Dr.  Philip,  "  the  whole  city  was  moved  at  his  coming ;" 
and  having  heard  "that  Antinomianism  had  been  charged 
against  the  tendency  of  his  doctrines,"  with  a  heart  burning 
with  indignation  against  error  and  false  charges,  he  fully  cleared 
himself  from  the  aspersion  in  his  first  sermon.  Rising  in  the 
majesty  of  his  strength,  he  boldly  said,  "/  abhor  the  thought  of 
it,  and  whosoever  entertains  the  doctrines  of  free  grace  in  an 
honest  heart,  will  find  them  cause  him  to  be  fruitful  in  every 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK,    I5I 

good  word  and  work."  He  preached  again  in  the  evening  to 
upwards  of  8,000,  and  the  next  day  at  Pennypack,  and  engaged 
a  man  to  build  his  negro  school-house  at  Nazareth.  After 
giving  them  another  impressive  sermon  in  Philadelphia  in  the 
evening,  he  organized  a  society  of  young  men  with  very  en- 
couraging prospects.  With  the  tide  of  devotion  rising,  he 
preached  twice  in  the  city  the  next  day  to  increased  congrega- 
tions, and  went  in  the  evening  to  organize  a  society  of  young 
women,  and  upon  entering  the  room  he  was  so  deeply  im- 
pressed with  their  melting  singing,  he  desired  to  pray  before 
speaking  to  them,  "  but  he  was  so  carried  out  in  prayer  that  he 
had  no  time  to  speak  at  all.  There  was  such  a  wonderful 
power  of  God's  presence  felt  in  the  room,  that  they  all  with  one 
accord  began  to  cry  out,  and  wept  most  bitterly  for  half  an 
hour.  Their  agonies  were  so  severe,  that  five  of  them  fell  into 
convulsive  fits."  Whitefield  believed  these  fits  are  from  the 
devil. 

With  the  interest  still  increasing,  he  preached  again  to  a  melt- 
ing congregation  of  about  1 5,000  the  following  Sabbath  morning, 
and  gave  them  his  farewell  sermon  in  the  evening  to  near  20,000 
very  deeply  affected  hearers,  sorrowing  most  of  all  that  perhaps 
-they  might  see  his  face  no  more.  The  impression  was  very 
deep.  And  says  he,  "  I  never  saw  a  more  general  awaken- 
ing anywhere.  Religion  is  all  the  talk."  Conversions  were 
numerous,  and  he  was  so  thronged  with  inquirers  that  he 
scarcely  had  time  to  eat.  After  bidding  them  a  weeping  fare- 
well, he  says,  "  Many  came  to  my  lodgings,  among  whom,  I 
believe,  were  fifty  negroes,  to  tell,  me  what  God  had  done  for 
their  souls.  Oh,  how  heartily  did  these  poor  creatures  throw 
in  their  mites  for  my  poor  orphans !"  Even  many  Quakers 
were  powerfully  convicted  and  wrought  upon. 

A  little  boy  who  held  the  lantern  for  Mr.  Whitefield  when 


152  LIFE   OF    WinXFFIELD. 

he  was  preaching  from  the  Court  House  steps  in  Philadelphia, 
was  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  sermon,  that  he  let  the  lan- 
tern fall,  and  it  was  broken  to  pieces.  Fourteen  years  after, 
Mr.  Whitefield,  while  visiting  St.  George's,  Delaware,  rode  out 
with  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Rodgers,  who  asked  Whitefield  if  he 
remembered  the  little  boy  who  was  so  affected  with  his  sermon 
as  to  let  his  lantern  fall.  "  O  yes,"  said  Mr.  Whitefield,  "  I 
recollect  it  very  well,  and  I  would  give  almost  anything  in  my 
power  to  know  who  that  boy  was,  and  what  has  become  of 
him."  Mr.  Rodgers  replied,  smiling,  "  I  am  that  little  boy." 
With  tears  of  joy  Mr.  Whitefield  rushed  to  him  and  embraced 
him  very  tenderly. 

Among  the  results  of  this  revival,  the  people  here  proposed 
to  build  him  a  very  large  church;  but  he  refused  it,  preferring 
to  preach  in  the  iields.  Yet  in  1743,  encouraged  by  the  large 
number  of  converts,  they  organized  themselves  into  a  church, 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  with  about 
140  members,  and  soon  called  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  to  be  their 
pastor.  He  soon  built  them  a  fine  large  church,  and  preached 
for  them  twenty  years.  "  Besides  these,"  says  Rev.  Dr.  Charles 
Hodge,  "  Many  others,  regarded  as  Whitefield's  converts, 
united  with  other  churches." 

On  this  point  Dr.  Franklin  says:  "The  multitudes  of  all  sects 
and  denominations  that  attended  his  sermons  were  enormous, 
and  it  was  a  matter  of  speculation  with  me  to  observe  the  in- 
fluence of  his  oratory  on  his  hearers,  and  how  much  they  ad- 
mired and  respected  him,  notwithstanding  his  common  abuse 
of  them,  by  assuring  them  that  they  were  naturally  half  beasts 
and  half  devils.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  the  change  soon 
made  in  the  manners  of  our  inhabitants.  From  being  thought- 
less and  indifferent  about  religion,  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  world 
was  growing  religious  ;  so  that  one  could  not  walk   through 


w> 

^ 

4??^^ 

i 

P  .'^"y- 

' 

_ 

, 

r/ 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.   I  53 

the  town  in  an  evening,  without  hearing  psahns  sung  in  differ- 
ent famihes  in  every  street."*  And  when  we  look  at  the  "  most 
deplorable  state  of  deadness  and  formality  "  the  church  was  in 
(Dr.  A.  Alexander)  before  the  revival,  its  effects  appear  much 
greater. 

But  to  return  to  our  tour.  On  the  morning  of  April  23, 
he  set  out  for  New  York,  and  reached  Neshaminy  about  3  p. 
M.,  and  preached  to  upwards  of  5,000  people  in  old  Mr.  Ten- 
nent's  meeting-house  yard.  Here  he  "  was  so  weak  he  was 
ready  to  drop  down  in  the  first  prayer."  "  But  strengthened 
from  above,"  he  preached  with  great  power  and  "  great  num- 
bers were  melted  down."  With  about  fifty  under  deep  con- 
viction, with  weeping  eyes  and  anxious  hearts  they  came, 
crying  what  to  do  to  be  saved. 

After  preaching  a  melting  sermon  at  Amwell,  he  came  on  to 
New  Brunswick,  where  he  preached  morning  and  evening  to 
7,000  or  8,000,  with  such  wonderful  power  that  they  came  near 
drowning  his  voice  with  their  cries  and  groans.  "  One  woman 
was  struck  down,  and  a  general  cry  went  through  the  congre- 
gation." Another  was  so  deeply  convicted  that  she  cried  out, 
"  I  can  see  nothing  but  hell  before  me."  Whitefield  replied, 
"  Oh,  that  all  were  in  as  good  a  way  to  heaven  ! " 

Encouraged  with  his  success,  he  now  wrote  to  a  friend  in 
England — "All  things  go  on  well  in  America :  better  than  I 
dare  ask,  or  could  think.  Our  Lord's  kingdom  comes  with 
power.  It  is  amazing  to  see  how  God  is  present  in  our  assem- 
blies.    My  animal  spirits  are  exhausted,  but  I  am  filled  within. 

*  Watson  in  his  "Annals  of  Philadelphia,"  says,  "  Whitefield  preached  to  15,000 
on  Society  Hill,"  and  adds,  "  that  the  dancing-school  was  discontinued,  and  the 
ball  and  the  concert  rooms  were  shut  up,  as  inconsistent  with  the  gospel."  And 
the  Gazette  of  the  day  says,  "  The  change  to  religion  here  is  altogether  surprising, 
through  Whitefield's  influence.  No  books  sell  but  religious,  and  such  is  the  gen- 
eral conversation," 


154  LIFE   OF    WIUTEFIELD. 

Nature  would  sometimes  cry  out  'Spare  thyself;'  but  when  1 
am  offering  Jesus  to  poor  sinners,  I  cannot  forbear  exerting  all 
my  powers.  Oh  that  I  had  a  thousand  lives!  My  dear  Lord 
Jesus  should  have  them  all." 

NEW   YORK. 

Wearied  and  worn,  Mr.  Whitefield  reached  New  York,  April 
29,  very  weak  and  out  of  health ;  yet  true  to  his  motto,  ''No 
nestling  this  side  heaven^'  he  preached  with  great  boldness 
the  same  evening  in  the  common  to  about  6,000  attentive  hear- 
ers, without  any  scoffing  as  when  he  was  there  before.  Re- 
freshed by  an  interview  with  Rev.  Wm.  Tennent,  he  preached 
again  the  next  morning  to  a  less  congregation,  but  with  a  much 
deeper  effect.  The  people,  he  says,  "  were  melted  down  ex- 
ceedingly." Though  weak  in  body,  and  troubled  in  mind,  he 
preached  again  in  the  evening  to  a  congregation  of  6,000  or 
7,000,  and  went  over  to  Flat-Bush,  on  Long  Island,  the  next 
day,  where  God  had  begun  a  precious  revival  under  the  labors 
of  two  Presbyterian  ministers.  Here  he  preached  with  exceed- 
ing great  clearness  and  power;  and  with  his  soul  deeply  .stirred, 
addressing  himself  to  several  ministers  present,  he  exclaimed, 
"  OJi  that  we  were  all  aflame  of  fire  T 

Naturally  buoyant,  Whitefield  was  generally  in  what  we  call 
a  revived  state,  and  went  soaring  along  at  the  feet  of  Jesus ; 
yet  sometimes  he  became  quite  cast  down.  Returning  from 
Flat-Bush  in  depressed  spirits,  he  sat  down  and  mourned,  he 
says,  "like  a  sparrow  sitting  alone  upon  the  house  top."  Yet 
he  preached  again  in  the  evening  at  New  York.*     "  But  my 

*  The  next  day  he  took  a  sorrowful  leave  of  his  two  friends  (his  spirit- 
ual children),  Captain  Gladmen  and  his  dear  brother  Mr.  Seward,  who  had  long 
been  his  fellow  traveler,  and  both  his  spiritual  and  pecuniary  helper.  Mr.  Sew 
ard  died  soon  after,  and  Mr.  Whitefield  saw  him  no  more. 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.    I  55 

spirits  being  exhausted,  and  God  being  pleased  to  suspend  His 
wonted  assistance,  I  preached  as  I  thought,  but  heavily."  "But 
we  are  too  apt  to  build  on  frames,  and  think  we  do  no  good, 
because  we  don't  please  ourselves." 

After  preaching  three  times  the  next  day,  and  once  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  morning  at  7  o'clock  in  the  church,  he  gave 
them  his  farewell  sermon  in  the  evening  in  the  fields,  to  a  con- 
gregation of  about  8,000,  and  bade  them  an  affectionate  farewell. 
At  the  close,  many  came  thanking  him  for  what  they  had 
heard,  bringing  large  contributions  for  his  orphans.  Here  he 
received  in  all  over  ;^300  for  them.  Here  too  he  labored  so 
hard,  that  "sometimes,"  says  Dr.  Gillies,  "he  was  almost  dead 
with  heat  and  fatigue.  Thrice  a  day  he  was  lifted  upon  his 
horse,  being  unable  to  mount  otherwise ;  then  rode  and 
preached  and  came  home,  and  laid  himself  down  upon  two  or 
three  chairs." 

Leaving  New  York,  he  now  struck  for  Georgia,  and  soon 
found  that  his  two  good  friends,  Messrs.  G.  and  Wm.  Tennent, 
had  come  twenty  miles  to  meet  him,  on  the  way  to  Amboy. 
7\fter  a  szveet  ride  of  twenty  miles  through  the  woods,  relating 
their  religious  experience,  they  reached  Freehold  (Wm.  Ten- 
nent's  home),  about  midnight,  and  retired  about  two  in  the 
morning.  Though  weak  to-day,  his  soul  was  much  com- 
forted, and  he  said,  "I  think  I  sleep  with  double  satisfaction 
when  lying  in  a  good  man's  house." 

Although  the  visible  effects  of  his  labors  here  were  not  so 
great  as  at  some  other  places,  yet  says  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton, 
"  he  left  New  York  under  a  deep  and  universal  concern ;  many 
were  greatly  affected."  Besides,  their  society  there  had  now 
increased  from  seventy  to  one  hundred  and  seventy  members. 
Except  when  in  the  fields,  he  usually  preached  in  Mr.  Pember- 


156  LIFE   OK    WillTEFIELD. 

ton's  Presbyterian  church  on  Wall  street;  frequently  in  the 
Old  City  Exchange;  and  sometimes,  latterly,  in  the  Brick 
church.     "  Here  the  word  ran." 

Touching  his  preaching  here,  a  hearer  says,  "I  thought  I 
saw  a  visible  presence  of  God  with  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  never  in 
my  fife  saw  so  attentive  an  audience.  All  he  said  was  demon- 
stration, life,  and  power.  The  people's  eyes  and  ears  hung  on 
his  lips.  They  greedily  devoured  every  word.  I  came  home 
astonished.  I  never  saw  nor  heard  the  like.  Surely  God  is 
with  this  man,  of  a  truth." 

NOTTINGHAM     REVIVAL. 

But  these  vast  congregations  and  mighty  outpourings  at 
Philadelphia,  were  only  a  prelude  to  still  greater  times  of  re- 
freshing. Leaving  Philadelphia  May  12,  accompanied  by  a 
host  of  friends  (as  many  as  could  cross  in  two  ferry-boats  in 
six  hours),  after  preaching  with  great  liberty  and  power  at 
Derby,  Chester,  Wilmington  and  White  Cfey  Creek,  he  reached 
Nottingham  about  midnight.  Here  a  good  work  had  been 
going  on  some  time  through  the  labors  of  Messrs  Blair,  Ten- 
nents  and  others,  and  upon  a  short  notice  Whitefield  preached 
twice  on  the  14th  to  congregations  of  near  1,200,  with  most 
wonderful  effect.  "  I  had  not  spoken  long,"  he  says,  "  till  I  saw 
numbers  melting.  As  I  proceeded,  the  influence  increased,  till 
at  last,  both  in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  thousands  cried  out, 
so  that  they  almost  drowned  my  voice.  Never  before  did  I 
see  a  more  glorious  sight.  Oh,  what  strong  crying  and  tears 
were  shed,  and  poured  forth  after  the  dear  Lord  Jesus!  Some 
fainted  ;  and  when  they  had  got  a  little  strength,  they  would 
hear  and  faint  again.  Others  cried  out  as  though  somebody 
was  murdering  them.  'HevQV  wdiS  my  so7tl  filled  with  greater 
power.     Oh  what  thoughts  and  words  did  God  put  into  my 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.     I  57 

heart!  I  was  so  struck  with  God's  love,  that  some  thought,  I 
believe,  that  I  was  about  to  give  up  the  ^host.  Oh,  how 
sweetly  did  I  lie  at  the  feet  of  my  blessed  Saviour!  After  the 
second  sermon  I  was  so  overpowered  with  a  sense  of  God's 
love,  that  it  almost  took  away  my  life." 

How  wonderful  this  scene  !  This  looks  like  another  Pente- 
cost. Although  there  was  no  "  sound  from  heaven  as  of  a 
mighty  rushing  wind ;"  although  they  did  not  "  speak  with 
other  tongues,  nor  with  cloven  tongues  of  fire,"  yet  powerfully 
moved  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  '^thousands  cried  oiW"  for  salvation. 
Yet  with  all  this  wonderful  result,  without  the  least  exalta- 
tion, he  rode  twenty  miles  the  same  night,  and  preached  at 
Fog's  Manor,  the  next  day,  to  about  12,000  more,  with  a  still 
greater  effect.  "  Look  where  I  would,"  he  said,  "  most  were 
drowned  in  tears."  "  The  Word  was  sharper  than  a  two-edged 
sword ;  and  their  bitter  yellings  and  groans  put  me  much  in 
mind  of  the  wailings  of  the  damned  in  hell." 

"  Oh,  what  diffl^rent  visages  were  then  to  be  seen  ?  Some 
were  struck  pale  js  death,  others  were  wringing  their  hands, 
others  lying  on  the  ground,  and  most  lifting  up  their  eyes 
towards  heaven,  and  crying  out  to  God  for  mercy.  They 
seemed  like  persons  awakened  by  the  last  trump,  and  coming 
out  of  their  graves  to  judgment."  Here  the  convicted  crowded 
around  him  so  thick,  that  he  could  scarcely  get  on  his  horse 
to  start  away.  Hurrying  on  at  eight  miles  an  hour,  he  reached 
New  Castle  and  preached  again  the  same  day  to  about  4,000 
anxious  souls ;  and  he  was  so  filled  with  a  sense  of  God's  love, 
that  "  his  heart  was  ready  to  burst."  And  yet  he  retired  to 
rest  ashamed  that  he  could  be  no  more  affected  with  a  sense  of 
the  blessings  received.  Loaded  down  with  gifts  for  his  orphans, 
he  came  on  and  preached  with  such  wonderful  force  at  Lewis- 


1^8  LIFE    OF    WHiriCFlELD. 

town,  that  ho  says,  "  I  saw  the  Word  s/rUc  the  hearers  hkc  so 
many  pointed  arrows.     God  grant  that  they  may  stick  fast." 

WHITEFIELD'S    "  TEARS    OF    BLOOD." 

Distinguished  for  his  strong  convictions,  deep  hatred  of 
sin,  deep  piety,  great  earnestness,  and  for  the  boldness  and 
vehemence  of  his  style,  Whitefield  abounded  in  strong,  sweep- 
ing expressions.  Addicted  to  sin  and  crime  when  young,  and 
having  felt  such  deep  and  powerful  convictions  ofsin,  and  such 
awful  agonies  of  soul  in  his  conversion,  together  with  his  clear, 
grasping  views  of  God's  love  and  the  great  things  He  had  done 
for  him,  it  is  no  wonder,  when  he  remembered  and  felt  the  sins 
of  his  youth,  that  he  wished  "to  lament  them  tvith  tears  of  bloody 
With  the  doctrines  of  the  Cross  deeply  embedded  in  his  soul 
and  engraved  upon  his  heart,  with  his  clear  views  of  the  tor- 
ments of  that  hell  to  which  his  sins  exposed  him,  well  may  he 
desire  to  repent  of  them  "  with  tears  of  blood."  Whitefield's 
sense  of  his  sins  was  so  deep,  that,  like  Paul,  he  often  felt  and 
confessed  himself  "  the  chief  of  sinners."  And  with  these  keen 
conceptions  of  the  greatness  of  his  sins,  and  of  the  infinite 
mercy  of  God  in  pardoning  them,  'tis  no  wonder  we  find  him 
desi.!  .j^  "to  lament  them  with  tears  of  blood." 

GREAT   JOY    IN    SAVANNAH. 

After  spending  about  forty  days  in  the  North,  and  having 
preached  about  sixty  sermons,  and  collected  over  ^^500  for  his 
orphans,  he  sailed  for  Georgia  May  25th,  and  reached  his  lovely 
Savannah  June  5th,  with  great  joy.  And  says  he,  "  Oh,  what 
a  sweet  meeting  had  I  with  my  dear  friends.  What  God  has 
prepared  for  me  I  know  not ;  but  surely  I  cannot  well  expect  a 
greater  happiness  till  I  embrace  the  saints  in  glory.  When  I 
parted,  my  heart  was  ready  to  break  with  sorrow,  but  now  it 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO    PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.       I  59 

almost  bursts  with  joy.  Oh,  how  did  each  in  turn  h;mg  upon 
my  neck,  kiss  and  weep  over  me  with  tears  of  joy.  And  my 
own  soul  was  so  full  of  a  sense  of  God's  love,  when  I  embraced 
one  friend  in  particular  (Mr.  Bryan),  that  I  thought  I  should 
have  expired  in  the  place  !  Several  of  my  parishioners  came 
in  to  us  with  great  joy,  and  after  we  had  wept  and  prayed,  and 
given  thanks  for  a  considerable  time,  my  soul  was  so  full  of  a 
sense  of  the  Divine  goodness,  that  I  wanted  words  to  express 
myself!     Why  me.  Lord?     Why  me? 

"And  when  we  came  to  public  worship,  young  and  old — all 
— were  dissolved  in  tears.  After  service  several  of  my  parish- 
ioners, all  of  my  family,  and  the  little  children,  returned  home 
crying  along  the  streets,  and  some  could  not  avoid  praying 
very  loud."  Being  very  weak  he  lay  down,  but  was  soon 
roused  by  their  cries  and  prayers,  and  went  to  praying  again. 
After  they  had  prayed  over  an  hour  he  desired  them  to  retire, 
but  they  prayed  on  most  earnestly.  A  storm  arose,  and  the 
loud  peals  of  thunder  and  the  lightning's  vivid  flash  added  so 
much  to  the  solemnity  of  the  scene,  that  it  reminded  him  of 
the  Day  of  Judgment.  Several  of  the  orphans  were  very 
deeply  impressed,  and  five  hopefully  converted.  This  w^s  fol- 
lowed by  a  general  awakening. 

Encouraged  with  the  success  of  his  northern  excursion  and 
his  happy  reception  at  home,  he  now  resumed  his  pastoral 
labors  in  and  around  Savannah.  The  people  being  hungry 
for  the  gospel,  though  very  weak,  he  went  about,  preaching 
once  or  twice  a  day  at  such  places  as  Dorchester,  Apple 
Ferry,  Ponpon,  Jane's  Island,  Beaufort  and  Charleston,  to  large 
and  deeply  impressed  congregations.  Being  weak  on  his 
return  from  Charleston,  July  26,  he  says:  "I  could  not  bear 
up  under  the  joy  and  satisfaction  which  I  felt  in  meeting  my 
dear  family"  in  Savannah.     "  However,  I  kneeled  down  and 


i6o 


LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 


wept  out  a  short  prayer,  and  expounded  in  the  evening."  On 
August  3,  when  "struck  ahiiost  with  death,"  as  he  thought, 
Hke  the  dying  proto-martyr  Stephen,  he  jorayed:  "Lord 
Jesus,  receive  my  spirit."  While  praying  again,  on  the  same 
day,  Mr.  B — 11,  a  planter,  was  so  deeply  affected  that  he 
"  dropt  down  as  though  shot  with  a  gun."  He  soon  got  up 
again,  and  listened  to  the  sermon.  On  August  9,  he  reached 
Bethesda  again,  and  they  had  another  time  of  refreshing.  It 
was  Communion  Sabbath.  "And  with  the  King  sitting  at 
his  table,  'Many  fed  on  Jesus.'"  Their  hearts  so  burned 
within  them,  that  while  he  was  speaking  "many  burst  into 
floods  of  tears."     His  own  soul  overflowed  with  joy. 

At  Charleston,  where  he  met  with  the  greatest  opposition, 
he  had  the  greatest  success.  Here  he  said :  "  God  has  begun 
a  great  work."  Here  he  frequently  preached  twice  a  day,  and 
the  word  ran  like  lightning.  Fired  with  resentment.  Rev.  Mr. 
Gordon  poured  forth  his  anathemas  and  bitter  words  against 
him,  and  refused  him  the  sacrament  as  well  as  his  church. 
But  it  was  all  in  vain.  With  God  on  his  side,  Whitefield 
triumphantly  carried  the  people  with  him.  With  large, 
deeply-impressed  congregations,  he  thus  preached  on,  though 
often  ready  to  die  with  excessive  heat,  till  he  gave  them  his 
melting  farewell  sermon,  August  24,  to  about  4,000  hearers, 
and  afterward  admini'stered  the  sacrament  in  a  private  house. 
"  Never  did  I  see  anything  more  solemn."  Many  w^ept  pro- 
fusely. Baptists,  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians — all  com- 
muned together.  Sweating  so  prodigiously,  he  was  obliged  to 
change  his  linen  every  sermon. 

Among  the  results  of  his  labors  here  he  says:  "A  vast 
alteration  is  discernible  in  the  ladies'  dresses.  And  some, 
while  I  have  been  speaking,  have  been  so  convinced  of  the  sin 
of  wearing  jewels,  that  I  have  seen  them  with  blushes  put  their 


HIS  SECOND  TOUR  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW  YORK.       l6l 

hands  to  their  ears,  and  cover  them  with  their  fans."  But  the 
reformation  went  deeper.  Besides  three  rich  planters  and  sev- 
eral other  hopeful  conversions,  "many  came  to  him  privately 
under  the  deepest  convictions.  Many  awakened  planters,  con- 
victed of  their  sins,  now  resolved  to  teach  their  slaves  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity." 

While  Whitefield  was  thus  going  on  with  his  good  work,  he 
was  sued  and  suspended  from  the  ministry  by  Mr.  Gordon,  of 
Charleston,  because  he  refused  to  read  Episcopal  prayers  in 
non- Episcopal  churches.  But  being  undisturbed  about  it,  dur- 
ing the  pending  of  the  trial  he  preached  twice  a  day ;  and 
objecting  to  the  court,  asked  for  an  arbitration,  which  being 
refused,  he  appealed  to  the  High  Court  of  Chancery,  London, 
and  bound  himself  under  penalty  of  ^50,  to  appear  there  within 
twelve  months.     The  appeal  was  never  prosecuted. 

When  the  commissary  refused  Mr.  Whitefield  the  sacra- 
ment, he  says,  "I  immediately  retired  to  my  lodgings,  rejoic- 
ing that  I  was  accounted  worthy  to  suffer  this  further  degree 
of  contempt  for  my  dear  Lord's  sake." 

Wrought  up  by  these  exhibitions  of  God's  grace,  White- 
field  rose  very  high.  At  times  he  seemed  to  walk  between 
the  very  cherubims  of  glory.  Glorying  in  his  blessed  assur- 
ance, with  an  humble  boldness,  amidst  shouts  of  "  Glory  be  to 
God,"  he  would  exclaim,  "my  Lord  d,nd  my  God."  Expecting 
to  die  a  martyr  for  Jesus,  he  said,  "  His  love  will  sweeten  every 
cup,  though  ever  so  bitter.  'Twill  be  sweet  to  zvear  a  martyr's 
crown."  In  meek  submission,  he  says,  "  I  often  sit  in  silence, 
offering  my  soul  as  so  much  clay,  to  be  stamped  as  my 
Heavenly  Potter  pleases;  and  while  I  am  musing,  I  am  often 
filled  as  it  were  with  the  fullness  of  God.  The  whole  God- 
head now  fills  my  soul."  "  Oh,  Jesus,  was  ever  love  like  thine." 
u 


CHAPTER  XVI 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND. 

|RGED  by  the  leading  ministers  of  Boston  to 
visit  New  England,  and  being  anxious  to  see 
the  descendants  of  the  Puritans,  Whitefield 
sailed  from  Charleston  for  Boston,  August  24, 
and  reached  Newport,  R.  I.,  September  14, 
1740.  As  there  had  been  a  great  revival  at 
Northampton  and  some  other  places  in  New 
England  in  1735,  and  although  much  luke- 
warmness  now  prevailed,  yet  the  present  condition  of  the 
country  was  considered  rather  favorable  for  Whitefield's 
success.  His  prestige  and  fame  had  gone  before  him.  And, 
encouraged  by  his  great  success  at  Philadelphia  and  other 
places,  his  arrival  was  most  anxiously  looked  for,  and  a  revival 
was  expected  to  follow  it.  Armed  with  the  panoply  of 
Heaven,  under  these  circumstances,  the  bold  evangelist  now 
went  forth  to  fight  the  battles  of  the  Lord  in  the  strongholds 
of  New  England.  He  arrived  on  Sunday  evening  and  was 
most  kindly  received.  Several  gentlemen  called  to  see  him  the 
same  evening,  "  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clapp,  an  aged 
Dissenting  minister,  but  surely,"  said  Whitefield,  "  the  most 
venerable  man  I  ever  saw.  His  countenance  was  very 
heavenly.  A  bachelor,  he  was  much  rejoiced  to  see  me,  and 
prayed  most  earnestly  for  my  success." 

He  preached  twice  the  next  day  to  a  very  large  and  deeply- 
impressed  congregation,  and  staid  all  night  with  old  Mr.  Clapp. 

(  1  f52  ) 


WlilTEFlEI.n    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  1 63 

lie  was  much  pleased  with  hnii.  After  an  interview  with  the 
governor,  he  preached  again  the  next  day  to  an  increased  con- 
gregation with  a  very  deep  effect.  Many  wept  freely.  The 
legislature  adjourned  to  hear  him.  On  returning  to  his  lodg- 
ings, the  landlady  saluted  him  with,  "  Blessed  art  thou  of  the 
Lord,"  because  he  had  shot  an  arrow  from  God's  quiver  into  a 
young  woman's  heart,  and  her  soul  was  bleeding  for  salvation. 
She  said,  "  the  Word  came  with  such  power  that  I  was  obliged 
to  go  out  of  the  church."  Having  to  leave  Newport  the  next 
day,  she  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  the  goodness  of  God  in  sending 
Whitefield  just  now!"  The  people  were  so  eager  after  the 
Word,  that  over  1,000  crowded  around  his  lodgings  to  hear 
more  of  it  after  preaching  was  out.  He  spoke  to  them  nearly 
an  hour  with  deep  feeling. 

GOES   TO    BOSTON. 

Requested  by  the  Court,  on  his  way  he  preached  at  Bristol, 
and  reached  Boston  on  the  eighteenth.  He  was  met  four 
miles  out  by  the  governor's  son  and  others,  who  conducted 
him  to  Mr.  Staniford's,  where  several  ministers  and  others 
soon  came  to  see  him.  "  His  heart  was  low  and  body  weak" 
when  he  entered  Boston.  Yet,  at  the  friend's  request,  he  led 
them  in  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  for  his  safe  arrival,  and 
besought  God's  blessing  upon  his  labors.  After  a  good  night's 
sleep,  and  perceiving  some  fresh  rays  of  light  and  comfort 
breaking  in  upon  his  soul,  accompanied  by  Secretary  Willard, 
he  called  upon  Governor  Belcher  the  next  day,  who  received 
him  most  courteously  and  requested  frequent  visits.  At 
eleven  he  attended  worship  at  the  P^piscopal  church,  inter- 
viewed five  Episcopal  clergymen,  and  went  home  with  the 
commissary,  who  received  him  very  kindly.  In  the  afternoon 
he  preached  in  Dr.  Coleman's  church  to  about  4000,  and  to  a 


164  '  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

large  crowd  at  his  lodgings  in  the  evening,  with  very  encour- 
aging prospects. 

Encouraged  by  hearing  of  the  "great  work  going  on  at 
Charleston,"  he  preached  the  next  morning  in  the  "  Old  South 
Church"  (Dr.  Sewall's),  to  about  6000,  "and  afterwards  to 
about  8000  on  the  Common,  and  again  at  night  to  a  thronged 
company  at  his  lodgings."  On  Sabbath  morning  he  heard  Dr. 
Coleman  and  preached  in  the  afternoon  to  a  very  thronged 
audience  with  great  effect,  in  Mr.  Foxcroft's  church,  and 
almost  immediately  after  again  on  the  Common,  to  about 
15,000  deeply-affected  hearers,  and  again  at  his  lodgings  to  an 
unusually  large  crowd.  Thirsting  for  more,  they  even  followed 
him  to  his  bedroom. 

Going  around,  he  preached  the  next  morning  at  Mr.  Webb's 
church  to  over  6000  attentive  hearers,  "  most  of  whom  wept  for 
a  considerable  time."  There  was  so  much  of  the  presence  of 
God  that  some  said  "it  was  the  gate  of  heaven."  "The  Lord 
Jesus  seemed  to  be  visibly  walking  in  their  midst."  "  In  the 
afternoon  I  went  to  preach  at  Mr.  Checkley's  church,  but  God 
was  pleased  to  humble  us  by  an  awful  Providence.  Just  before 
commencing  the  service,  some  one  broke  a  board  to  make  a 
seat.  Alarmed  by  the  noise,  some  imprudently  called  out: 
^' Tlic  galleries  arc  giving  way  P'  when  the  densely  crowded 
house  was  thrown  into  such  an  alarm  and  confusion,  that  in 
trying  to  escape  five  persons  were  killed  and  others  danger- 
ously wounded.  Grasping  the  situation,  upon  reaching  the 
church  in  the  midst  of  the  uproar,  with  his  characteristic  pres- 
ence of  mind,  Mr.  Whitefield  gave  out  notice  that  he  would 
preach  immediately  on  the  Common.  The  weather  was  wet, 
yet  8,000  followed  to  hear  him  preach  a  stirring  sermon  from 
the  text,  "Go  out  and  compel  them  to  come  in." 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  I65 

The  next  morning  he  preached  at  Roxbury,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Walter,  a  good  old  Puritan,  was  so  much  refreshed,  he 
said,  "this  is  Puritanism  revived."  After  preaching  in  "  The 
Old  South,"  in  the  afternoon  to  a  veiy  full  house,  the  next  day 
he  "  went  to  see  and  preach  at  Cambridge,  the  chief  college  for 
training  the  sons  of  the  prophets  in  all  New  England."  "  It 
has  one  president,  I  think  four  tutors,  and  about  100  students. 
The  tutors  neglect  to  pray  with  and  examine  the  hearts  of  their 
pupils.  Discipline  is  at  a  low  ebb.  Bad  books  are  become 
fashionable."  Many  ministers  attended,  and  in  concluding  his 
sermon  he  made  a  close  application  to  tutors  and  students.  He 
preached  again  the  afternoon  in  the  court,  to  about  7,000  atten- 
tive hearers.  "  The  Holy  Spirit  melted  many  hearts."  One 
was  hopefully  converted. 

When  about  to  preach  the  next  day,  he  had  such  a  deep 
sense  of  hi§  own  "  base  ingratitude,"  that  he  was  tempted  not 
to  preach  and  invite  sinners  to  the  Saviour,  "  because  he  was 
such  a  great  sinner  himself"  But  resisting  the  devil,  God  en- 
abled him  to  preach  with  great  tenderness. 

By  request,  that  day,  he  and  most  of  the  Boston  pastors 
dined  with  Governor  Belcher.  And  says  he,  "  Before  dinner, 
the  Governor  called  me  into  his  chamber.  He  wept,  wished 
me  good  success,  and  recommended  himself,  ministers  and 
people,  to  my  prayers."  "  Immediately  after  dinner  I  prayed 
explicitly  for  them  all ;"  and  in  returning  in  the  governor's 
coach,  "  I  had  such  a  sense  of  my  vileness,  that  I  wondered  the 
people  did  not  stone  me''  He  preached  the  next  morning  with 
a  deep  effect  at  Roxbury  to  many  thousands,  and  in  the  after- 
noon to  many  more  at  Mr.  Byles'  church. 

Sermon  after  sermon,  with  the  interest  still  increasing,  he 
preached  again  on  Saturday  morning  at  Mr.  Welsteed's 
church,  and  in  the  afternoon  on  the  Common  to  about  15,000 


1 66  LIFE    OF    VVHITEFIELD. 

people  with  great  power.  The  effect  was  so  great  that  he  ex- 
chihned,  "  Oh,  how  did  the  word  run  !  I  was  so  rejoiced  that  I 
could  scarce  abstain  from  crying  out,  '  This  is  none  other  than 
the  House  of  God  and  the  Gate  of  Heaven.'  "  At  his  lodg- 
ings "many  wept  bitterly  and  cried  out  like  persons  really 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness."  "  So  many  come 
to  me  under  convictions  and  for  advice  that  I  have  scarce  time 
to  eat.  Wonderful  things  are  doing  here.  The  word  runs  like 
lightning.  Dagon  daily  falls  before  the  ark."  On  Sabbath 
morning,  September  28,  he  preached  again  at  "  The  Old 
South"  with  a  very  deep  impression,  and  collected  ;^555  for 
the  Orphan  House.  Exhausted  with  "these  herculean  labors," 
he  was  taken  very  ill  after  dinner,  but  with  his  buoyant  soul, 
was  enabled  to  preach  at  Dr.  Coleman's  in  the  afternoon  and 
collected  £4.70  more  for  the  orphans.  ;^5,ooo  given  by  two 
churches  in  a  day  in  Boston,  130  years  ago,  was  a  very  big 
COLLECTION.  Feeling  deeply,  the  people  gave  very  liberally. 
Let  their  liberal  example  provoke  us  to  give  more.  Dr. 
Coleman  said,  "  This  was  the  happiest  day  I  ever  saw  in  my 
life." 

After  dinner  he  received  a  private  visit  from  Governor 
Belcher,  preached  to  a  large  congregation  of  negroes,  at  their 
request,  on  the  conversion  of  the  Ethiopian,  Acts  viii.,  and  they, 
as  well  as  many  whites,  were  "much  affected."  Enjoying  the 
high  respect  and  warm  friendship  of  the  Boston  ministers,  they 
flocked  to  hear  him.  "Almost  exhausted,"  he  says,  "  my  legs 
were  almost  ready  to  sink  under  me;  but  the  Lord  visited  my 
soul,  and  I  went  to  bed  greatly  refreshed." 

Honored  with  a  brilliant  career  and  a  glorious  success  in 
Boston,  Whitefield  now  goes  to  blow  the  gospel  trumpet  in 
the  surrounding  towns  and  villages.  Starting  early  Monday 
he  preached  at  Marblehead  in  the  forenoon,  and  at  Salem  in 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW   ENGLAND.  167 

the  afternoon  to  about  7,000  hearers  with  a  very  deep  effect. 
He  preached  the  next  day  at  Ipswich  with  "  a  great  melting  in 
the  congregation,"and  was  much  interested  to  know  that  his 
host,  Mr.  Rodgers,  was  a  descendant  of  John  Rodgers,  the  cel- 
ebrated martyr.  At  Salem  one  brother  "  seemed  to  be  almost 
in  heaven."  After  giving  them  a  sermon  at  Hampton,  he 
preached  to  a  polite  auditory  at  Portsmouth,  but  with  little 
effect.  One  young  man  cried  out,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  be 
saved  ?"  He  now  went  on  to  York,  in  Maine,  to  see  Rev.  Mr. 
Moody,  and  after  preaching  twice  in  his  church  to  weeping 
congregations,  on  his  return  to  Boston,  he  preached  again  in 
the  same  places  with  increased  interest  and  liberal  contribu- 
tions for  his  orphans.  At  Portsmouth,  "  soon  after  he  began  to 
preach,  the  people  began  to  melt,"  and  "  the  word  seemed  to 
pierce  through  and  through."  "Great  numbers  were  under 
deep  impressions." 

October  6,  he  returned  to  Boston  with  improved  health,  and 
preached  twice  the  next  day  at  Dr.  Coleman's  with  much 
power.  He  now  received  many  letters  from  the  awakened  and 
many  calls  from  the  newly  converted.  Having  been  reported 
dead  or  poisoned,  the  people  rejoiced  greatly  to  see  him  again 
alive. 

A    CHILD    "going   TO    WHITEFIELD's    GOD." 

Accompanied  by  the  Governor  in  his  coach,  he  went  and 
preached  twice  the  next  day  at  Mr.  Webb's  church  to  immense 
congregations.  He  scarcely  ever  saw  so  much  of  the  presence 
of  God  before.  "  Both  times  many  hearts  were  melted  down, 
and  I  think  I  never  was  so  drawn  out  to  pray  for  and  invite 
Httle  children  to  Jesus  Christ  as  in  the  morning.  A  little 
before,  I  had  heard  of  a  child  who  was  taken  sick  just  after  it 
had  heard  me  preach,  and  said,  ^He  wants  to  go  to  Mr.  White- 


l68  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELU. 

field's  God',  and  died  in  a  short  time  after."  "This  encouraged 
me  to  speak  to  httle  ones.  But  oh,  how  were  the  old  people 
affected  when  I  said,  '  Little  children,  if  your  parents  will  not 
come  to  Christ,  do  you  come  and  go  to  heaven  without  them.' 
There  seemed  to  be  but  few  dry  eyes."  And  with  a  shout  of 
"  Glory  be  to  God,"  he  said,  "  I  have  not  seen  a  greater  com- 
motion since  my  preaching  in  Boston." 

Known  to  be  expert  in  talking  to  children,  a  little  girl  of 
seven  years  on  her  death-bed  sent  for  him.  He  came  and 
thus  they  conversed : 

Whitcfield.  "  For  what  purpose,  my  dear  child,  have  you 
sent  for  me  ?" 

Girl.  "  I  think  I  am  dying,  and  I  wished  very  much  to  see 
you." 

Whiiefield.     "  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

Girl.     "  You  can  tell  me  about  Christ,  and  pray  for  me." 

Whiteficld.  "  My  dear  girl,  what  do  you  know  about 
Christ?" 

Girl.     "  I  know  he  is  the  Saviour  of  the  world." 

WJdtefield.     "  My  dear  child.  He  is  so." 

Girl.     "  I  hope  He  will  be  my  Saviour  also." 

WJdtefield.  "  I  hope,  my  dear,  that  this  is  the  language  of 
faith  out  of  the  mouth  of  a  babe ;  but  tell  me  what  ground  you 
have  for  saying  this  ?" 

Girl.  "  Oh,  sir,  He  bids  little  children,  such  as  I,  to  come 
unto  Him,  and  says,  'Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;'  and 
besides,  I  love  Christ,  and  am  always  glad  when  I  think  of 
him." 

WJdtefield.  "  My  dear  child,  you  make  my  very  heart  to 
rejoice  ;  but  are  you  not  a  sinner  ?" 

Girl.  "Yes,  I  am  a  sinner,  but  my  blessed  Redeemer  take^ 
i?way  sin,  and  I  long  to  be  with  Him." 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  169 

Whitefield,  "My  dear  girl,  I  trust  that  the  desire  of  your 
heart  will  be  granted ;  but  when  do  you  think  you  will  find 
your  Redeemer?" 

Girl.     "  O,  sir,  I  think  I  shall  find  Him  in  heaven." 

Whitefield.     "Do  you  think  you  will  get  to  heaven?" 

Girl.     "  Yes,  I  do." 

Whitefield.     "But  what  if  you  do  not  find  Christ  there?" 

Girl.  "  If  I  do  not  find  Christ  there,  I  am  sure  it  is  not 
heaven ;  for  where  He  dwells  must  be  heaven,  for  there  also 
dwells  God,  and  holy  angels,  and  all  that  Christ  saves." 

While  Whitefield  was  preaching  in  New  England  a  lady 
was  converted,  whose  "  spirit  was  peculiarly  drawn  out  in 
prayer  for  others."  "  But  in  her  Christian  exercises  she  was 
alone ;  she  could  persuade  no  one  to  pray  with  her  but  her 
little  daughter  about  ten  years  of  age.  She  took  this  dear 
child  into  her  closet  from  day  to  day,  as  a  witness  of  her  cries 
and  tears."  At  length  the  little  girl  was  converted,  and,  "  in  a 
transport  of  joy  she  exclaimed,  'O,  mother,  if  all  the  world 
knew  this !  I  wish  I  could  tell  everybody.  Pray,  mother,  let 
me  run  to  some  of  the  neighbors  and  tell  them,  that  they  may 
be  happy,  and  love  my  Saviour  too.'  'Ah,  my  dear  child,  that 
would  be  of  no  use,  for  they  would  not  believe  you.'  '  Oh, 
mother,  I  think  they  would  believe  me.  I  must  go  over  to 
the  shoemaker,  and  tell  him;  he  will  believe  me.'  She  ran 
over  and  found  him  at  work  in  his  shop.  She  began  by  telling 
him  that  he  must  die,  and  that  he  was  a  sinner,  and  that  she 
was  a  sinner,  but  that  her  blessed  Saviour  had  heard  her 
mother's  prayers,  and  had  forgiven  her  all  her  sins;,  and  that 
now  she  was  so  happy  that  she  did  not  know  how  to  tell  it. 
The  shoemaker  was  struck  with  surprise;  his  tears  flowed 
down  like  rain ;  he  threw  aside  his  work,  and  by  prayer  and 
supplication  sought  for  mercy.      The  neighborhood  was  awak- 


I/O  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

ened,  and  within  a  few  months  more  than  fifty  persons  were 
hopefully  converted." — Belcher,  p.  168-9. 

Although  thronged  with  the  awakened  and  deep-distressed 
souls  since  his  return  to  Boston,  he  preached  the  next  morn- 
ing at  Mr.  Sewell's,  on  the  Natur-e  and  Necessity  of  Regener- 
ation, and  cautioned  tutors  to  watch  their  pupils,  and  ministers 
to  examine  well  their  candidates  for  ordination.  "  For,"  says 
he,  "  I  am  verily  persuaded  that  the  generality  of  preachers 
talk  of  an  unknown  and  unfelt  Christ ;  and  the  reason  why 
congregations  have  been  so  dead  is,  because  they  have  had 
dead  men  preaching  to  them.  O  that  the  Lord  may  quicken 
and  revive  them,  for  His  own  name's  sake.  For  how  can  dead 
men  beget  living  children  ?  It  is  true,  indeed,  God  may  con- 
vert men  by  the  devil,  if  He  pleases,  and  so  He  may  by  un-- 
converted  ministers;  but  I  believe  He  seldom  makes  use  of 
either  for  this  purpose.  I  would  not  lay  hands  on  an  uncon- 
verted man  for  ten  thousand  worlds." 

He  preached  again  in  the  afternoon  on  the  Common  to 
about  15,000  people,  and  collected  over  ^200  for  the  orphans. 
Here  he  received  a  request  to  pray  for  a  young  unconverted 
minister.  He  prayed  for  him  with  all  his  heart.  He  says, 
if  unconverted  men  preach,  "  they  offer  God  strange  fire."  He 
spoke  afterwards  at  the  poor  house,  the  work  house,  and  his 
lodgings.  Fearing  he  would  injure  his  health,  his  friends  cried, 
^'Spare  thyself"  but  he  labored  on  as  usual.  After  the  throng 
of  anxious  inquirers  was  over,  next«inorning,  accompanied  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Cooper,  he  went  and  preached  at  Charlestown  and 
Reading  with  much  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  collected 
£2^^  for  the  orphans. 

Though  very  weak  in  body,  he  was  much  refreshed  in 
spirit,  at  the  sight  of  a  poor  little  girl  sitting  at  his  gate,  who 
had  followed  him  from  Roxbury  for  instruction.     Being  under 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  I/I 

very  deep  convictions,  she  said,  "S/w  wanted  nothing  but  Christ, 
and  Christ  she  would  have."  After  preaching  in  the  rain,  the 
next  day,  to  a  very  large,  attentive  congregation  at  Cambridge, 
he  gave  them 

HIS    FAREWELL    TO    BOSTON. 

Rising  early  Sabbath  morning,  October  12,  with  soul  and 
body  much  refreshed,  after  spending  the  morning  hours  with 
the  anxious,  "  he  preached  with  great  power  and  affection  at 
'  the  Old  South,'  which  was  so  densely  crowded  that  he  had 
to  go  in  at  one  of  the  windows."  "  He  dined  with  the  gover- 
nor, who  came  to  him  after  dinner  weeping  and  desired  his 
prayers."  After  hearing  Dr.  Sewell  in  the  afternoon,  although 
unwell,  he  went  with  the  governor  in  his  coach,  to  the  com- 
mon, and  preached  his  farewell  sermon  to  about  20,000.  Tracy 
says  to  near  30,000  people.  "  Great  numbers  were  melted  into 
tears."  The  governor  accompanied  him  to  his  lodgings,  where 
he  spoke  to  a  vast  crowd  "  who  were  so  deeply  affected,  that 
they  cried  out  so  loud  while  he  was  praying,  that  he  had  to 
leave  off."  He  spent  the  evening  mainly  in  conversing  with 
those  "  under  very  great  distress  of  soul."  Encouraged  with 
these  precious  revivings,  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God  for 
what  He  has  done  in  Boston."  In  speaking  of  the  Bostonians, 
he  said,  "  The  ministers  and  magistrates  seem  to  be  more 
united  than  in  any  other  place  I  have  been.  Both  were  ex- 
ceedingly kind  to  me.  I  never  saw  so  little  scoffing,  never 
had  so  little  opposition.  Boston  people  are  dear  to  my  soul. 
Dear  Boston, farewell" 

The  next  day,  October  13,  he  left  Boston  for  Northampton. 
The  cultured  Governor  Belcher  took  him  to  the  ferry  in  his 
coach,  kissed  him,  and  with  tears  bid  him  an  affectionate  fare- 
well. 


[72  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

About  noon  the  next  day  he  reached  Concord,  and 
preached  in  the  open  air  to  a  large,  melting  congregation,  with 
considerable  interest.  After  giving  them  impressive  sermons 
at  Sudbury  and  Marlborough,  he  preached  again  at  Worcester 
to  several  thousands  with  a  very  deep  effect.  "The  Word  fell 
with  great  power  and  carried  all  before  it."  Here  he  met  Gov- 
ernor Belcher,  "who  exhorted  him  to  go  on  stirring  up  the 
ministers  ;  and  do  not  spare  rulers  any  more  than  ministers — 
no,  not  the  chief  of  them."  Requesting  an  interest  in  his 
prayers,  the  governor,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  kissed  him  again, 
and  bid  him  a  final  farewell. 

Says  Dr.  Philip,  "  Princeton  College  owes  much  to  Belcher, 
and  Belcher  was  much  indebted  to  Whitefield  for  the  impulse 
which  made  him  its  chief  patron  and  benefactor."  Passing 
on,  he  preached  at  Leicester,  Brookfield  and  Cold- Spring,  on 
his  way  to  Hadley,  where  he  spoke  with  such  tenderness  and 
power,  that  "//  was  like  putting  fire  to  tinder^  Speaking  to 
them  of  their  former  revival,  "quickened  and  caused  many  of 
them  to  weep  sorely." 

WHITEFIELD  AT  NORTHAMPTON. 

After  a  long  journey  he  reached  Northampton,  October 
17th,  and  enjoyed  the  great  privilege  of  seeing  President  Ed- 
wards, and  of  hearing  through  him  about  the  great  revival 
they  had  there  in  1735.  With  over  300  hopeful  conversions, 
reaching  all  classes,  this  was  one  of  the  greatest  revivals  since 
the  day  of  Pentecost.  The  conversions  averaged  near  30  a 
week  for  some  six  weeks.  Commencing  with  the  sudden  and 
unexpected  conversion  of  one  of  the  gay  young  ladies,  "  The 
news  of  which,"  says  Edwards,  "  seemed  to  be  almost  like  a 
flash  of  lightning  upon  the  hearts  of  young  people  all  over  the 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  1 73 

town,"  the  work  spread  so  rapidly  that  the  whole  town  soon 
seemed  to  be  full  of  the  presence  of  God. 

"  It  was  never  so  full  of  love,  and  yet  so  full  of  distress  as  it 
was  then.  It  was  a  time  of  joy  in  families ;  parents  rejoicing 
over  their  children  as  new-born,  and  husbands  over  their 
wives,  and  wives  over  their  husbands.  Alive  in  God's  service 
the  congregations  were  from  time  to  time  in  tears,  while  the 
Word  was  preached  ;  some  weeping  with  sorrow  and  distress, 
others  with  joy  and  love,  others  with  pity  and  concern  for 
their  neighbors."     (Edwards.) 

After  interviewing  Mr.  Edwards,  Whitefield  said,  "  He  is  a 
solid,  excellent  Christian.  I  think  I  may  say  I  have  not  seen 
his  equal  in  all  New  England.  When  I  came  into  his  pulpit, 
I  found  my  heart  drawn  out  to  talk  of  scarce  anything  but  the 
consolations  and  privileges  of  .saints,  and  the  plentiful  effusions 
of  the  Holy.Ghost  in  the  hearts  of  believers."  And  when  he 
came  to  speak  of  their  precious  revival,  "  both  mini.ster  and 
people  wept  profusely."  Though  weak  in  body,  he  spoke  with 
great  power,  and  exhorted  at  Mr.  Edwards's  house  that  even- 
ing. Next  morning,  at  Mr.  Edwards's  request,  he  spoke  to  his 
little  children,  who  were  much  affected. 

In  the  morning  he  preached  at  Hadfield,  five  miles  out,  and 
in  the  afternoon  again  to  a  weeping  congregation  in  Mr. 
Edwards's  church.  "  Few  eyes  were  diy,  and  it  seemed  as  if  a 
time  of  refreshing  had  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 
On  Sabbath  morning  "  he  felt  a  wonderful  satisfaction  in  being 
at  Mr.  Edwards's  house.  He  was  so  much  pleased  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Edwards  that  he  said,  "A  sweeter  couple  I  never 
saw.  The  children  were  dressed,  not  in  silks  and  satins,  but 
plirifi,  as  becometh  the  children  of  examples  of  Christian  sim- 
plicity." "  She  is  a  woman  adorned  with  a  meek  and  quiet 
spirit,  .;!h!  tilked  so  icclingly  and  solidly  of  the  tilings  of  God, 


1/4  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD.  ' 

and  seemed  to  be  such  a  helpmeet  to  her  husband,  that  it  put 
him  in  the  notion  of  marrying,  and  to  pray  God  to  send  him  a 
good  wife."  Leaving  it  all  to  God,  he  said,  "  Lord,  I  desire  to 
have  no  choice  of  my  own."  "  Thou  knowest  my  circum- 
stances." 

In  preaching  this  morning,  the  melting  began  sooner,  and 
spread  wider  than  before.  "  Dear  Mr.  Edwards  wept  during 
the  whole  time  of  service."  "The  people  were  equally  if  not 
more  affected ;  and  my  own  soul  was  much  lifted  up  towards 
God.  In  the  afternoon  the  power  increased  more  and  more. 
I  have  not  seen  such  a  gracious  melting  since  my  arrival. 
My  soul  was  much  knit  to  these  dear  people  of  God ;  and 
though  their  former  fire  might  be  greatly  abated,  yet  it  imme- 
diately appeared  when  stirred  up."  "Oh,  that  Northampton 
people  may  recover  their  first  love,  and  return  and  do  their  first 
works." 

Accompanied  by  Mr.  Edwards  and  several  other  gentle- 
men, Mr.  Whitefield  left  Northampton  the  same  evening,  and 
preached  three  times  the  next  day,  October  20,  at  Westfield 
and  Springfield.  Here  he  says,  "  A  little  after  I  left  Spring- 
field, my  horse,  coming  over  a  broken  bridge,  threw  me  over 
his  head,  directly  upon  my  nose.  I  was  stunned  for  a  while, 
my  mouth  was  full  of  dust,  I  bled  a  little,  but  falling  upon  soft 
sand,  received  but  httle  damage."  After  interviewing  a  min- 
ister, "  who  said  it  was  not  absolutely  necessary  for  a  gospel 
minister  to  be  converted,"  in  preaching  at  Springfield  the  next 
day,  he  insisted  much  on  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  and  a 
converted  ministry,  "  and  made  a  great  impression  upon  the 
people.  Many  ministers  were  present.  I  did  not  spare  them. 
Most  of  them  thanked  me  for  my  plain  dealings.  One  was 
offended.  Unconverted  ministers  are  the  bane  of  the  Christian 
Church." 


WHITEFIELI)    liN    NEW    ENGLAND.  1/5 

He  preached  that  afternoon  with  great  freedom  at  East 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  and  spent  the  night  very  agreeably  with 
Mr.  Edwards's  parents.  Here  young  Mr.  Edwards  took  occa- 
sion privately  to  caution  ]\Ir.  Whitcfield  about  his  attaching 
too  much  importance  to  impulses.  Whitefield  took  it  kindly 
but  remained  of  the  same  opinion.  Mr.  Edwards  also  cautioned 
him  against  his  common  practice  of  "judging  other  persons  to 
be  unconverted." 

Mr.  Edwards  says,  "  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  four  sermons 
at  Northampton,  and  the  congregation  was  extraordinarily 
melted  by  every  sermon ;  almost  the  whole  assembly  being  in 
tears  for  a  greater  part  of*  the  sermon  time.  Mr.  Whitefield's 
sermons  were  suitable  to  the  circumstances  of  the  town ;  con- 
taining a  just  reproof  of  our  backslidings,  and  in  a  most  mov- 
ing and  affecting  manner,  making  use  of  our  great  professions, 
and  great  mercies  as  arguments  with  us  to  return  to  God,  from 
whom  we  had  departed.  Immediately  after  this,  the  minds  of 
the  people  in  general  appeared  more  engaged  in  religion,"  and 
the  revival  that  followed  appeared  at  first  chiefly  among  pro- 
fessors, but  it  soon  spread  with  great  power  among  the  young 
people,  insomuch  that  by  the  following  spring  there  was  such 
an  engagedness  about  the  things  of  religion,  "  that  it  was 
almost  the  only  subject  of  their  conversation.  Sometimes  in 
their  conference  meetings  Christians  were  so  "  overcome  with  a 
sense  of  the  greatness  and  glory  of  divine  things;"  and  sinners 
were  so  overcome  with  distress  about  their  sinful  and  miserable 
condition,  "  that  the  whole  room  was  full  of  nothing  but  out- 
cries, faintings  and  the  like."  Others  hearing  of  this,  came  and 
"were  overpowered  injike  manner."  They  sung,  prayed,  and 
conferred  with  one  another.  At  a  meeting  Mr.  Edwards  held 
with  the  children,  he  says,  "  They  were  so  greatly  affected  that 
the  room  was  filled  with  cries ;  and  when  they  were  dismissed, 


1/6  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

they  almost  all  went  home  crying  aloud  through  the  streets 
to  all  parts  of  the  town."*  Here,  at  Windsor,  the  two  great 
preachers  parted,  but  they  "both  soon  rejoiced  equally  in  a 
glorious  progress  of  the  work  of  God  "  at  Northampton  that 
year. 

The  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  says,  "  For  months  together  my 
soul  has  been  so  i-avished  with  divine  objects,  that  my  animal 
spirits  have  been  wasted,  and  my  sleep  much  broken.  I  have 
been  made  to  loathe  my  food  because  of  the  superior  sweetness 

*While  some  may  regard  these  outward  demonstrations  as  ^^  strange  fire"  and 
disorder,  we  find  in  reading  President  Edwards  on  revivals  that  such  have  been 
quite  common  centuries  ago.  He  gives  "  an  instance  in  Mr.  Bolton,  a  noted 
minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  being  awakened  by  the  preaching  of  the 
famous  Mr.  Perkins,  was  subject  to  such  terrors  as  threw  him  to  the  ground  and 
caused  him  to  roar  with  anguish,  and  the  pangs  of  the  new  birth  in  him  were  such 
that  he  lay  pale  and  without  sense,  like  one  dead."  Again  he  says,  in  the  west  of 
Scotland,  in  1625,  during  a  great  revival,  "it  was  a  frequent  thing  for  many  to  be 
so  extraordinarily  seized  with  terror  in  the  hearing  of  the  Word,  that  they  fell  down 
and  were  carried  out  of  the  church,  who  afterwards  proved  most  solid  and  lively 
Christians."  And  "of  many  in  France  that  were  so  wonderfully  affected  with 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  that  for  a  time  they  could  not  follow  their  secular 
business."  Also  "  of  many  in  Ireland,  that  were  so  filled  with  divine  comforts, 
that  they  made  but  little  use  of  either  meat,  drink  or  sleep,  and  professed  that  they 
did  not  feel  the  need  thereof."  See  "  the  fuKllling  of  the  Scripture,"  5th.  Ed.,  pp. 
103-185.  The  same  author  says  of  Mrs.  Catharine  Bretbergh,  of  England,  "that 
after  great  distress  which  very  much  affected  her  body,  God  did  so  break  in  upon 
her  mind  with  light  and  discoveries  of  Himself,  that  she  was  forced  to  burst  out, 
crying,  '  C),  the  joys,  the  joys,  the  joys,  that  I  feel  in  my  soul  !  O,  they  be  won- 
derful, they  be  wonderful!  The  place  where  I  now  am  is  sweet  and  pleasant! 
How  comfortalilc  is  the  sweetness  I  feel,  tliat  delights  my  soul !  The  taste  is 
precious  ;  do  you  not  feel  it!  Oh,  so  sweet  as  it  is  !  O,  my  sweet  Saviour,  shall 
I  be  one  with  Thee,  as  Thou  art  one  with  the  Father?  My  soul  hath  been  com- 
passed with  the  terrors  of  death,  the  sorrows  of  hell  were  upon  me,  and  a  wilder- 
ness of  woe  was  in  me ;  but  blessed,  blessed,  blessed  be  the  Lord  my  God, 
He  hath  brought  me  to  a  place  of  rest,  even  to  the  sweet  running  waters  of 
life.      O,  the   jdy,  tlu;  joy,  the  delights  of  joy  that  I  now  feel.'  " 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND,  1/7 

I  have  found  in  Christ.  Sometimes,  when  traveHng  on  the 
road  while  I  beheld  the  canopy  of  heaven,  my  heart  has  been 
suddenly  ravished  with  love  to  God  as  my  Father,  so  that  I 
could  not  forbear  cryhig  out,  in  the  pleasing  transports  of  a 
childlike  affection,  Father !  Father !  with  a  full  and  sweet 
assurance  that  He  was  my  Father  and  my  God." 

President  Edwards  says, "  Once  as  I  rode  out  into  the  woods 
for  my  health,  the  person  of  Christ  appeared  ineffably  excellent 
with  an  excellency  great  enough  to  swallow  up  all  thoughts 
and  conceptions ;  which  continued  about  an  hour,  and  kept 
me  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  a  flood  of  tears,  weeping 
aloud." — Tracy  214.. 

WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    HAVEN. 

After  preaching  to  many  thousands  at  Hartford  and 
Weatherfield,  and  recalling  several  appointments  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Plymouth,  R.  I.,  he  struck  directly  for  New  York. 
Hurrying  on,  he  preached  the  next  day  at  Middletown  and 
Wallingford,  and  reached  New  Haven,  Friday,  October  24, 
and  was  most  affectionately  received  by  Mr.  Pierpont,  brother- 
in-law  to  Mr.  P2dwards.  Here  he  was  much  refreshed  with 
the  sight  of  his  dear  friend  Mr.  Nobk,  who  brought  him  letters 
from  Georgia.  He  preached  twice  on  Saturday,  "  with  a  sweet 
melting  both  times."  The  Legislature  being  in  session,  the 
Governor  and  the  members  of  both  houses  attended.  In  one 
sermon,  he  spoke  very  closely  to  the  students  and  showed 
the  dreadful  ill  consequence  of  an  unconverted  ministry,  and 
prayed  "  Oh,  that  God  may  quicken  ministers  !  Oh,  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  may  make  us  all  a  flame  of  holy  fire."  His  strong 
opposition  against  unconverted  ministers  created  considerable 
excitement  among  the  clergy,  and  seemed  to  have  set  Mr. 
Clapp  somewhat  against  him.       Yet  the  celebrated  Rev.  Dr. 


178  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Samuel  Hopkins,  then  a  student  there,  was  so  deeply  impressed 
with  his  solemn  warnings  that  they  had  much  to  do  in  his 
conversion. 

Refreshed  by  several  ministerial  visits,  after  preaching  twice 
the  next  Sabbath  to  increased  congregations,  with  much 
power,  he  called  on  Governor  Tallcott,  who  said,  "  I  am 
glad,  sir,  to  see  you,  and  heartily  glad  to  hear  you."  The 
Governor  was  so  overcome,  "  the  tears  trickled  down  his  aged 
cheeks  like  drops  of  rain.  He  thanked  God  for  such  refresh- 
ings on  our  way  to  heaven." 

Leaving  New  Haven  that  evening  about  eight,  they  reached 
a  house  by  the  way,  he  says,  "  where  they  told  me  the  mother 
and  three  daughters  were  converted  persons.  -  While  there  we 
enjoyed  such  a  Bethel  that  my  friends  said  they  were  never  in 
such  a  house  before."  He  prayed,  exhorted,  and  gave  the 
fourth  daughter  a  word  of  advice  which  resulted  in  her  conver- 
sion. Reader,  don't  be  ashamed  or  afraid  to  speak  a  word  for 
Jesus.  After  preaching  at  Milford,  Stratford,  Fairfield,  New- 
ark, and  Stamford,  he  bid  farewell  to  New  England,  and  passed 
over  into  New  York.  At  Stamford  he  preached  with  such 
great  power,  that  "  all  the  liearers  were  ready  to  cry  out."  At 
dinner  he  spoke  with  such  vigor  against  sending  unconverted 
persons  into  the  ministry,  that  two  ministers,  weeping  publicly, 
confessed  that  they  had  lain  hands  on  young  men  without  so 
much  as  asking  whether  they  had  been  born  again  or  not? 
An  aged  minister,  after  hearing  him  pray,  was  so  deeply  con- 
victed that  he  came  weeping,  scarcely  able  to  speak,  requesting 
his  prayers,  saying,  "  I  have  been  a  scholar,  and  have  preached 
the  doctrines  of  grace  for  a  long  time,  but  I  believe  I  have 
never  felt  the  power  of  them  in  my  own  soul." 

Before  entering  New  York,  he  now  set  up  his  Ebenezer  "to 
give  God  thanks  for  sending  him  to  New  England."     "  tt  cer- 


WHITEFIELD    IN    NEW    ENGLAND.  1/9 

tainly  on  many  accounts,"  he  says,  "  excels  all  other  provinces 
in  America,  and  for  the  establishment  of  religion,  perhaps  all 
other  parts  of  the  world.  Every  five  miles  you  have  a  meet- 
ing-house and  a  pastor.  But  many,  nay,  most  that  preach,  I 
fear,  do  not  experimentally  know  Christ ;  yet  I  cannot  see 
much  worldly  advantage  to  tempt  them  to  take  upon  them  the 
sacred  office.  But  I  think  the  ministers'  preaching  almost 
universally  by  notes  is  a  certain  mark  they  have,  in  a  great 
measure,  lost  the  old  spirit  of  preaching."  "It  is  a  sad  symp- 
tom of  the  decay  of  vital  religion,  when  reading  sermons  be- 
came fashionable."  "As  for  the  Universities,  I  believe  it  may 
be  said,  their  light  is  become  darkness,  darkness  that  may  be 
felt  and  is  complained  of  by  the  most  godly  ministers. 

"  Family  worship,  I  believe,  is  generally  kept  up.  The 
negroes,  I  think,  are  better  used,  both  in  soul  and  body,  than 
in  any  other  province  I  have  yet  seen.  In  short,  I  like  New 
England  very  well." 

Touching  the  results  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  labors  in  New 
England,  Rev.  Dr.  Baron  Stowe  says,  "there  was  a  pow- 
erful revival,  such  as  it  had  never  before  witnessed."  There 
were  at  this  time,  not  less  than  twenty  ministers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Boston  who  regarded  Whitefield  as  their  spiritual 
father.  Mr.  Hobby,  one  of  these,  went  to  church  to  pick  a  hole 
in  Whitefield's  coat,  but  he  picked  a  hole  in  Mr.  Hobby's 
heart.  Another  distinguished  convert  was  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Emerson,  who,  says  Mr.  Belcher,  "  was  truly  a  son  of  thunder 
and  a  flaming  light."  He  preached  fifty  years  with  very  great 
success  at  Hollis,  New  Hampshire.  An  eminent  Boston  min- 
ister after  speaking  of  Whitefield's  command  of  the  hearts  and 
affections  of  his  hearers,  says,  "  He  has  been  received  here  as 
an  angel  of  God."  Another  says,  "He  appears  to  be  full  of 
the  love  of  God,  and  fired  with  an  extraordinary  zeal  for  the 


i8o  LIFE  (;F  \vihti:field 

cause  of  Christ.  His  head,  his  heart,  his  hands  seem  to  be 
full  of  his  Master's  business."  When  he  speaks,  "  every  eye  is 
fixed  upon  him,  and  every  ear  chained  to  his  lips." 

The  eminent  Dr.  Thomas  Prince,  of  Boston,  says,  'He  spoke 
w  I'.i  a  mighty  sense  of  God,  eternity,  the  immortality  and 
preciousness  of  the  souls  of  his  hearers,  of  their  oiiginal  cor- 
ruption, of  the  nature  and  absolute  necessity  of  Regeneration 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,"  and  of  justification  by  faith  in  Christ. 
"  In  short,  he  was  a  most  importunate  zvoocr  of  souls,  and  dis- 
tinctly applied  his  exhortations  to  every  class  in  a  most  win- 
ning way."  "  The  very  face  of  the  town  seemed  to  be  strangely 
altered,"  "  Even  the  negroes  and  boys  in  the  streets  surpris- 
ingly left  their  usual  rudeness  and  were  formed  into  religious 
societies."  "  To  one  church  were  added  sixty,  and  to  another 
one  hundred  and  sixty  communicants.  One  minister  had  600 
and  another  1,000  anxious  inquirers  who  came  to  them  in  three 
months  anxiously  inquiring  what  to  do  to  be  saved."  And  says 
Dr.  A.  Stevens,  "  the  effects  of  Edwards's  labors  were  repro- 
duced and  rendered  general  by  Whitefield's.  One  hundred 
and  twenty  Congregational  Churches  were  founded  in  less 
than  twenty  years,  and  it  has  been  estimated  that  between 
thirty  and  forty  thousand  souls  were  converted." 

.  "■Multitudes  were  greatly  affected,  and  many  awakened  by 
his  lively  ministry."  Religion  was  the  general  theme  of  con- 
versation. "  On  his  leaving  us,  the  effect  was  so  deep,"  says 
one,  "  we  had  never  seen  anything  like  it  before."  New  Eng- 
land had  won  his  heart,  and  it  was  a  cross  for  him  to  leave  it 
so  soon.     For  results  in  Boston,  see  revised  journal,  p.  445. 


CHAPTER   XVII 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  ENGLAND  TO  GEORGIA. 

'^'^^^'W  AVING  shot  across  New  England  like  a  meteor, 
/^.  flashing  light  as  he  went,  he  now  strikes  for 
"  his  beloved  Georgia."  After  preaching  at 
Rye  and  King's  Bridge,  he  reached  New  York 
October  30,  1740,  and  preached  in  Mr.  Pember- 
ton's  church  the  next  evening  with  unusual 
power.  Says  he,  "  I  never  saw  the  Word  of 
God  fall  with  such  weight  in  New  York  before. 
Two  or  three  cried  out.  Mr.  Noble  could  scarce  refrain  liim- 
.self.  And  look  where  I  would,  many  seemed  deeply  wounded. 
At  night  the  Word  was  attended  with  still  greater  power." 
Although  he  had  prayed  earnestly  for  New  York,  yet  feeling 
"  somewhat  dejected  "  as  he  approached  it,  "  he  expected  but 
little  movings  there."  But  encouraged  by  his  present  prospects 
and  past  success  there,  he  went  forth  and  preached  with  such 
great  power  the  next  day  that  he  felt  "that  a  set  time  to  favor 
New  York  was  come." 

The  next  Sabbath  morning,  November  2,  "  he  preached 
with  freedom  and  some  power,  but  was  much  dejected  before 
the  evening  sermon."  "  For  near  half  an  hour  before  I  left  Mr. 
Noble's  house,  I  could  only  lie  before  the  Lord,  and  say  I  was 
a  poor  sinner,  and  wondered  that  Christ  would  be  gracious  to 
such  a  wretch.  As  I  went  to  meeting,  I  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  and  when  I  came  into  the  pulpit  I  could  have  chosen 
to  be   silent  rather  than  "speak.     But  after   I   had  begun,  the 

(181) 


1 82  LIFE   OF    WIIITEFIELD. 

Spirit  of  the  Lord  gave  me  freedom  till  at  length  it  came  down 
like  a  mighty,  rushing  zvind,  and  carried  all  before  it.  Imme- 
diately the  whole  congregation  was  alarmed.  Shrieking,  cry- 
ing, weeping  and  wailing  were  to  be  heard  in  eveiy  corner; 
men's  heart's  failing  them  for  fear,  and  many  falling  into  the 
arms  of  their  friends.  My  own  soul  was  carried  out  till  I 
could  scarce  speak  any  more.  A  sense  of  God's  goodness 
overwhelmed  me." 

In  the  midst  of  these  mighty  outpourings  of  God's  Spirit, 
Mr.  Whitefield  attended  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Barber  and  lady, 
"who,  were  going  as  assistants  to  Georgia."  He  says,  "Never 
did  I  see  a  more  solemn  wedding.  Jesus  Christ  was  called, 
and  He  was  present  in  a  remarkable  manner.  After  Mr.  Pem- 
berton  had  married  them,  I  prayed.  But  my  soul,  how  was  it 
enabled  to  wrestle  with  and  lay  hold  on  God !  I  was  in  a  very 
great  agony,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  was  so  remarkably  present, 
that  most,  I  believe,  could  say,  surely  God  is  in  this  place! 
After  this,  divine  manifestations  flowed  in  so  fast,  that  my  frail 
tabernacle  was  scarce  able  to  sustain  them.  My  dear  friends 
sat  round  me  on  the  bed  sides.  I  prayed  for  each  of  them 
alternately  with  strong  cries,  and  pierced  by  the  eye  of  faith 
even  within  the  veil,  I  continued  in  this  condition  for  about  half 
an  hour,  astonished  at  my  own  vileness  and  the  excellency  of 
Christ,  then  rose,  full  of  peace,  and  love,  and  joy." 

"O,  how  am  I  obliged  to  my  enemies !  God  has  remark- 
ably revealed  Himself  to  my  soul,  ever  since  I  have  seen  the 
pamphlet  published  by  the  Presbyterians  against  me." 

He  preached  twice  the  next  day  to  increased  congregations 
with  a  great  and  gracious  melting  both  times  among  the  peo- 
ple, but  no  crying  out.  With  £\\Q  collected  for  the  orphans, 
after  many  had  bid  him  an  affectionate  farewell,  he  went  to 
Staten  Island  and  preached  the  next   day.     "One  young  man. 


HIS    TOUR    FROM    NEW    ENGLAND    TO    GEORGIA.  I  S3 

who  seemed  as  though  his  very  heart-strings  would  break, 
came,  beseeching  nie  to  pray  that  he  might  be  converted. 
Many  wept."  He  went  on,  and  after  preaching,  exhorted  at 
Newark,  with  great  power.  "O  how  did  the  Word  fall  like  a 
hammer  and  like  a  fire !" 

A    BOY    "cut   TO   THE    HEART." 

When  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  in  New  York  with  "  cry- 
ing, weeping,  and  wailing"  all  over  the  congregation,  a  little  boy 
sitting  on  the  pulpit  stairs  was  so  deeply  affected,  "  that  he 
could  scarce  stand."  He  cried  out.  When  one  asked  him 
why  he  cried,  he  said,  "  Who  can  help  it  ?  TJie  Word  cut  me 
to  the  heart."  When  he  preached  in  Baskinridge  he  says,  "  I 
had  not  discoursed  long  till  in  every  part  of  the  congregation 
somebody  began  to  cry  out,  and  almost  all  were  melted  to 
tears.  This  abated  for  a  ^cv/  moments,  till  a  little  boy  about 
seven  or  eight  years  old,  cried  out  very  piteously,  and  wept  as 
though  his  little  heart  would  break.  Mr.  Cross,  having  com- 
passion on  him,  took  him  up  into  the  wagon,  which  so  affected 
me  that  I  broke  from  my  discourse,  and  told  the  people  that 
the  little  boy  should  preach  to  them;  and,  that  God,  since  old 
professors  would  not  cry  after  Christ,  had  displayed  His  sover-  - 
eignty,  and  out  of  an  infant's  mouth  was  perfecting  praise. 
God  so  blessed  this,  that  an  universal  concern  fell  on  the  con- 
gregation again.  Fresh  persons  dropped  down  here  and  there, 
and  the  cry  increased  more  and  more."  Behold  what  great 
things  a  little  boy  can  do ! 

After  hearing  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  preach  a  powerful  ser- 
mon at  night  in  Mr.  Cross's  barn,  Whitefield  gave  a  word  of 
exhortation  with  a  most  melting  effect.  "One  that  received 
Christ  cried  out,  '  He  is  come  !  He  is  come!'  and  could  scarce 
sustain  the  discovery  that  Jesus  Christ  made  to  his  soul.       The 


184  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

poor  creature  was  wrapped  up  in  Jesus."  "  Others  were  so 
earnest  for  the  discovery  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  their  souls,  that 
their  eager  crying  obhged  me  to  stop,  and  I  prayed  over  them 
as  I  saw  their  agonies  and  distress  increase.  At  length  my 
own  soul  was  so  full,  that  I  retired,  and  was  in  a  strong  agony 
for  some  time.  I  wept  under  a  deep  sense  of  my  own  vileness, 
and  the  sovereignty  and  greatness  of  God's  everlasting  love." 

Accompanied  by  many  Christian  friends,  he  reached  New- 
brunswick  the  next  day,  and  put  up  with  his  dear  friend  Mr 
G.  Tennent.  Here  he  was  most  rejoiced  to  learn  through  let- 
ters from  Savannah  of  the  prosperity  of  the  orphans,  and  that  a 
minister  was  coming  over  to  relieve  him  of  his  charge  at  Savan- 
nah. After  preaching  in  Mr.  Tennent's  church,  and  consulting 
with  the  brethren,  it  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent 
should  go  to  Boston  "  to  blow  up  the  divine  fire,"  and  carry  on 
the  good  work  begun  there.  He  went,  and  under  his  bold, 
"  terrible  and  searching  preaching,  the  people  appeared  to  be 
much  more  awakened  about  their  souls  than  before."  "  Such 
a  time  we  never  knew,"  says  Prince,  "  and  thus  successfully  did 
the  divine  work  go  on  for  above  a  year  and  a  half  after  Mr. 
Whitefield  left  us." 

Here,  at  Newbrunswick,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  a  warm 
friend  in  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  first  President  of  New  Jersey  Col- 
lege, who  obtained  for  him  the  degree  of  "A.  B."  in  1754. 
Not  expecting  to  meet  again  soon,  they  had  a  farewell  prayer- 
meeting.  "  Many  were  greatly  affected."  They  parted  in 
tears,  fully  assured  that  great  things  would  soon  be  accom- 
plished. When  about  leaving  he  asked  a  woman  (standing  by) 
"whether  she  knew  Christ?"  "Yes,"  she  said.  "How  long?" 
"  Three  years  the  third  Sunday  in  next  March."  Passing  on, 
he  preached  at  Trenton,  and  having  twice  narrowly  escaped 
drowning  from  high  waters,  he  reached  Philadelphia  November 


HIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW  ENGLAND  TO  GEORGIA.      1 85 

8th,  and  met  with  a  very  warm  reception.  He  preached  the 
next  day  to  several  thousands  in  the  new  church,  one  hundred 
by  seventy  feet,  his  friends  were  building  for  him.  "  God's 
glory  filled  the  house  both  times,  and  the  joy  of  most  of  the 
hearers  was  unspeakable."  He  was  now  so  very  happy  that 
he  said,  "  I  seem  to  have,  a  new  body,  and  the  Lord  greatly  en- 
riches my  soul.  Surely  our  Lord  intends  to  set  America  in 
a  flame."  Here  he  remained  over  a  week,  conversing  with  the 
awakened,  preaching  twice  a  day,  and  he  found  that  "  many 
that  before  were  only  convicted,  now  plainly  proved  that  they 
were  converted."  In  laboring  to  encourage  them  to  stand  fast, 
*'many  more  were  powerfully  convicted  almost  eveiy  day." 

A   CONVERTED    INFIDEL  WEEPS. 

Among  the  bright  trophies  of  Whitefield's  labors,  we  often 
find  converted  skeptics. 

Mr.  Brookden,  a  distinguished  deist  and  an  eminent  lawyer, 
who  had  begun  almost  to  doubt  the  very  existence  of  God, 
persuaded  by  a  friend,  through  curiosity  went  to  hear  White- 
field.  He  preached  on  Regeneration,  and,  says  he,  "  I  had  not 
spoken  much,  before  God  struck  his  hearty  For  said  he,  "  I 
saw  your  doctrine  tended  to  make  people  good."  "  His  family 
knew  nothing  that  he  had  been  to  hear  me.  After  he  came 
home,  his  wife,  who  had  been  at  church,  came  in  also,  and 
wished  heartily  that  he  had  heard  me.  He  said  nothing. 
After  this,  others  of  his  family  came  in  repeating  the  same 
wish,  till  at  last  being  unable  to  refrain  any  longer,  with  tears 
in  his  eyes  he  said,  '  Why,  I  have  been  hearing  him  ;'  and  then 
expressed  his  approbation.  Ever  since  he  has  followed  on  to 
know  the  Lord.  Though  upwards  of  three-score  years  old,  he 
is  but  a  little  child,  and  often  (as  he  told  me)  receives  such 
communications  from   God,  when  he  retires  into  the  woods, 


1 86  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

that  he  thinks  he  could  die  a  martyr  for  the  truth."  He 
sjDeaks  of  another,  a  noted,  swearing  sea-captain,  "  as  great  a 
reprobate  as  he  ever  heard  of,"  who  was  converted  under  a 
sermon  he  preached  at  Pennepack.  "  He  shows  his  faith  by 
his  works." 

In  speaking  of  Mrs.  D.,  one  of  his  former  converts,  now 
very  sick,  whom  he  was  called  to  visit,  he  says,  "  never  before 
did  I  see  a  soul  so  exult  in  God,  and  talk  so  feelingly  of  the 
love  of  Jesus.  Sometimes  she  was  so  full  of  comfort  that  she 
could  not  .speak.  She  said,  *  My  soul  is  wrapt  up  in  the  right- 
eousness of  Christ'  "  He  preached  twice  with  much  weeping 
the  following  Sabbath,  collected  ^105  for  the  orphans,  and 
publicly  baptized  five  women. 

Large-hearted  and  liberal  in  his  views,  Whitefield  was  veiy 
free  from  sectarianism.  Once,  when  he  was  preaching  in  Phila- 
delphia, he  burst  forth  in  a  lofty  .strain  of  apo.strophe,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  Father  Abraham,  who  have  you  in  heaven?  Any 
Episcopalians?"  "No."  "Any  Presbyterians?"  "No."  "Any 
Baptists  ?"  "  No."  "  Have  you  any  Methodists,  Seceders,  or  In- 
dependents there?"  "  No,  no."  "  Why,  who  have  you  there?" 
"  We  don't  know  those  names  here.  All  who  are  here  are 
Christians,  believers  in  Christ — men  who  have  overcome  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  the  Word  of  His  testimony." 

"  Much  affected  at  parting  with  his  dear  friends  in  Philadel- 
phia," although  weak  and  "weighed  down,"  on  the  17th  he 
sailed  over  the  Delaware,  singing  by  the  way,  and  preached 
with  an  "affecting  melting"  at  Gloucester.  After  a  weeping- 
farewell  with  his  Philadelphia  friends,  he  rode  on,  and  preached 
at  Greenwich  to  a  few  people,  with  scarce  any  power.  "  My 
animal  spirits  were  almost  gone,  and  assistance  suspended." 

After  giving  them  an  affecting  sermon  at  Pilesgrove,  "  with 
">      his  soul'  abundantly  refreshed,"  he  preached  with  great  power 


HIS    TOUK    FROM    NEW    ENGLAND    TO    GEORGIA.  1 8/ 

at  Cohansic,  Salein,  and  New  Castle.  At  Cohansie,  "  the 
whole  congregation  was  greatly  moved.  Life  and  power  flew 
all  around."  "Two  cried  out  in  the  bitterness  of  their  souls, 
after  a  crucified  Saviour,  and  were  scarce  able  to  stand."  With 
the  interest  increasing,  accompanied  with  Charles  Tennent, 
he  went  on  to  Whiteclay  creek,  where  many  thousands  were 
waiting  to  hear  him.  Here  "the  melting  soon  began,  and  the 
power  increased  more  and  more,  till  the  greatest  part  of  the 
congregation  was  exceedingly  moved.  Several  cried  out  in 
different  parts,  and  others  were  wringing  their  hands  and  weep- 
ing bitterly.  The  stir  was  ten  times  greater  than  when  I  was 
here  last."  "  At  Fogg's  Manor  he  preached  to  many  thou- 
sands, and  there  was  a  wondrous  powerful  moving."  At  night 
he  was  "quite  ill,  but,"  he  said,  "inward  comforts  so  refreshed 
me  that  I  could  scarce  stand  under  it." 

On  Sabbath  he  reached  Nottingham  in  a  heavy  rain,  and 
preached  in  the  afternoon  to  a  large  congregation,  who  listened 
very  attentively,  regardless  of  the  rain.  Thence  he  went  to 
Bohemia,  Maryland,  where  he  preached  "to  about  2000  peo- 
ple, and  had  a  very  'solid  meeting.'"  On  November  25,  he 
reached  Reedy  Island,  and  "  had  a  blessed  meeting."  Here  he 
preached  daily  with  a  deep  effect  to  sea-captains,  their  crevys, 
etc.,  till  December  1st,  when  he  sailed  for  Charleston. 

Besides  renewing  his  health  during  this  excursion  of  75 
days,  he  preached  175  times,  traveled  over  800  miles  and 
collected  over  iJ^Soo  in  stores  and  money  for  the  Georgia 
orphans.  "  Never  did  God  vouchsafe  me  greater  comforts. 
Never  did  I  [)crfojm  my  journey  with  so  little  fatigue,  or 
.see  such  a  C(jntinuance  of  the  divine  presence  in  the  congrega- 
tions to  which  I  have  preached."  Having  touched  and 
preached  at  Charleston,  he  reached  Savannah  December  14th, 
preached  in  the  morning  and  went  out  to  Bcthcsda  in  the  after- 


1 88  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

noon.  Finding  his  orphan  family  comfortably  settled,  and 
rejoicing  over  a  few  conversions,  he  says,  "  My  soul  was  so 
affected  with  a  sense  of  God's  mercies,  that  when  I  came  to 
pray,  with  an  old  Christian  in  our  infirmary,  I  was  almost 
overwhelmed."  "  He  enjoyed  a  very  comfortable  Christmas 
at  Bethesda."  Having  arranged  the  affairs  of  the  Orphan 
House,  and  appointed  Mr.  Barber  to  superintend  its  spiritual 
and  Mr.  Habersham  its  temporal  affairs,  he  preached  his  farewell 
sermon  on  the  29th,  bid  them  an  affectionate  farewell,  and  left 
the  next  day  to  embark  for  England.  Leaving  Savannah 
January  i,  1741,  he  reached  Charleston  on  the  3d,  and  had  the 
great  pleasure  of  seeing  his  brother,  who  gave  him  much 
interesting  news  from  England.  Here  he  expounded  and 
preached  twice  a  day,  for  two  weeks,  to  large,  increased  con- 
gregations, with  very  encouraging  results.  He  says  "  I  never 
received  such  generous  tokens  of  love  from  any  people  before. 
They  so  loaded  me  down  with  sea-stores,  that  I  sent  many  of 
them  to  Savannah."  Here  he  found  that  while  some  had  back- 
slid, most  all  still  continued  steadfast.  But  his  enemies  were 
ready  to  injure  him.  His  friend,  Mr.  Hugh  Bryan,  had  written 
a  letter  in  which  "  it  \vas  hinted  that  the  clergy  break  their 
canons."  Whitefield  revised  and  corrected  this  letter  for  the 
press,  and  it  was  published  while  he  was  yet  in  the  city. 
Upon  Mr.  Bryan's  testifying  to  this  fact,  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
charged  of  having  made  and  composed  a  false,  malicious, 
scandalous  and  infamous  libel  against  the  clergy  of  this  pro- 
vince, in  contempt  of  his  Majesty  and  his  laws,  and  against 
the  King's  peace.  "And  on  being  summoned  to  appear,  he 
went  before  the  court,  plead  guilty  of  the  charge,  and  gave 
security  to  appear  by  his  attorney  at  the  next  court,  under  the 
penalty  of  ^100  proclamation  money."  "Blessed  be  God,"  he 
said,  "for  this  further   honor.     My  soul  rejoices  in   it."       He 


MIS  TOUR  FROM  NEW'  ENGLAND  TO  GEORGIA,       1 89 

thought  this  was  persecution  for  righteousness'  sake,  and  said, 
"  Oh  !  how,  gently  does  the  Lord  deal  with  me  !" 

He  preached  the  next  day  on  Herod's  strategem  to  kill 
Christ,  and  "  endeavored  to  show  how  dreadful  it  was  to  perse- 
cute under  a  pretense  of  religion." 

Having  sojourned  about  sixteen  months  in  America,  after 
giving  them  an  affectionate  farewell  sermon  in  Charleston,  he 
sailed  for  London. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


HIS    SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY. 

AVING  established  his  Orphan  House,  revived 
'  ^   the  American  churches,  and  "the  revivahsts  of 
Northampton,"  the  bold  evangelist'  again  bids 
farewell  to  America,  and  sails  for  England. 

Leaving  Charleston  January  i6,  1741,  on  the 
"  Minerva,"  after  a  pleasant  voyage,  he  reached 
Falmouth,  March  nth;  and  knowing  that 
trouble  was  brewing,  he  hurried  on  to  London 
and  preached  on  Kennington  Common  the  following  Sabbath. 
But  oh,  what  a  trying  scene  rose  before  him !  Satan  had  made 
havoc  of  his  societies,  and  the  spirit  of  discord  had  grown  so 
rife  among  them,  that  the  rent  made  was  long  and  deep.  "The 
plague"  (as  Mr.  Cennick  called  it),  had  spread  so  wide  that  he 
urged  Whitefield  to  hasten  on  home  to  stay  it!'  Where  he 
formerly  preached  to  twenty  or  thirty  thousand,  now  he  had 
"not  above  a  hundred."  With  "very  many  of  my  spiritual 
children,  who,  at  my  last  departure  from  England,  would  have 
plucked  out  their  own  eyes  to  have  given  me,  are  now  so 
prejudiced  by  the  dear  Messrs.  Wesleys  dressing  up  the  doc- 
trine of  election  in  such  horrible  colors,  that  they  will  neither 
hear,  see,  nor  give  me  the  least  assistance."  He  says,  "  I  had 
the  mortification  of  seeing  numbers  of  them  running  by  me 
while  preaching,  disdaining  so  much  as  to  look  at  me,  and 
some   of  them   putting  their  fingers  in   their  ears,  that  they 

might  not  hear  one  word  I  said."     "As  for  the  people  of  the 

(190) 


HIS   SEPAIL(\TIOX    FROM    WESLEY.  I9I 

world,  they  are  so  embittered  by  my  injudicious  and  too 
severe  expressions  against  Archbishop  Tillotson  and  Mr.  Venn, 
that  they  fly  from  me  as  from  a  viper;  and  what  is  most  cut- 
ting of  all,  I  am  now  constrained,  on  account  of  our  differing 
in  principles,  publicly  to  separate  from  my  dear,  dear  old 
friends,  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  whom  I  still  love 
as  my  own  soul.  I  am  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed  ;  per- 
plexed, but  not  in  despair."  Adding  to  this  heavy  burden 
■  was  his  large  indebtedness,  and  an  orphan  family  of  near  lOO 
to  maintain  at  Bethesda,  without  the  least  fund  to  do  it  with. 
Without  possessing  ^100  in  the  world,  and  owing  near  ^1,500 
for  the  Orphan  House,  he  was  threatened  to  be  arrested  for 
debt.  Thus,  forsaken  by  his  friends,  abandoned  by  his  con- 
gregations, maligned  by  his  enemies,  and  opposed  by  John 
Wesley  and  Charles,  to  his  tender  soul  the  scene  was  most 
heart-rending.  His  very  heart  bled  over  it.  With  all  his  work 
to  begin  again,  he  says,  "  Greeit  perils  await  me."  Yet  with 
his  Christ-like  courage  and  martyr  spirit,  none  of  these  things 
moved  him.  Despairing  nothing  and  fired  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  with  a  full  confidence  "that  Jesus  Christ  would  send  His 
angel  and  roll  away  every  stone  of  difficulty,"  he  went  forth, 
met  the  cries,  conquered  the  opposition  and  achieved  a  glorious 
victory. 

Although  Whitefield  and  Wesley  were  brought  up  in 
the  same  church  and  belonged  to  the  same  "  Holy  Club  "  at 
Oxford,  yet  somehow  or  other  they  had  imbibed  different 
doctrines.  Whitefield  was  a  thorough  Calvinist,  and  Wesley 
was  a  strong  Arminian.  For  a  while  they  co-operated  and 
worked  well  together;  but  as  they  advanced  and  became  more 
matured  in  their  theological  views,  they  began  to  diverge. 
Whitefield  said,  "  He  had  his   doctrines  from  Christ  and   His 


192  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

apostles — I  was  taught  them  of  God."  Wesley  was  taught  his 
by  his  mother.  With  his  Arminian  vie^ys  being  more  gener- 
ally divulged  in  England  while  Whitefield  was  in  America,  and 
knowing  that  his  old  friend  and  disciple  stood  at  the  opposite 
pole  of  Calvinistic  predestination  and  decrees,  from  a  sense  of 
duty,  Wesley  wrote  to  him  on  these  subjects,  earnestly  desiring 
to  avoid  all  disputes.  Whereupon  Whitefield  replied — "My 
honored  friend  and  brother,  for  once  hearken  to  a  child  who  is 
willing  to  wash  your  feet.  I  beseech  you,  by  the  mercies  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  if  you  would  have  my  love  con- 
firmed towards  you,  write  no  more  to  me  about  misrepresenta- 
tions, wherein  we  differ.  The  doctrine  of  election,  and  the 
final  perseverance  of  the  saints,  I  am  ten  thousand  times  more 
convinced  of,  if  possible,  than  when  I  saw  you  last.  You 
think  otherwise.  Why  then  should  we  dispute,  when  there  is 
no  probability  of  convincing  ?  Let  us  offer  salvation  freely  to 
all  by  the  blood  of  Jesus;  and  whatever  light  God  has  com- 
municated to  us,  let  us  freely  communicate  to  others.  I  never 
expect  to  enter  the  lists  of  controversy  with  you  on  the  points 
wherein  we  differ.  Only  I  pray  to  God,  that  the  more  you 
judge  me,  the  more  I  may  love  you,  and  learn  to  desire  no 
one's  approbation  but  that  of  my  Lord  and  Master,  Jesus 
Christ." 

While  these  sentiments  do  honor  to  Whitefield,  he  soon 
began  to  see  that  fidelity  to  the  truth  would  require  him  to 
overstep  the  courtesies  of  private  friendship.  Being  more  con- 
firmed in  his  Calvinistic  views,  Whitefield  soon  followed  this 
letter  with  another,  expressing  his  dread  to  return  to  England 
or  Wesley's  coming  to  America,  unless  he  would  have  less 
controversy.  He  says  to  Wesley,  "  I  dread  your  coming  to 
America,  because  God's  work  is  carried  on  here  in  a  most 
glorious  manner,  by  doctrines  quite  opposite  to  those  you  hold. 


JOHN    WESLEY. 


HIS    SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY.  1 93 

At  present  I  think  you  are  entirely  inconsistent  with  yourself, 
and  therefore  do  not  blame  me  if  I  do  not  approve  of  all 
you  say.  God  himself,  I  find,  teaches  my  friends  the  doctrine 
of  election."  Wesley  received  this  letter  kindly  and  thanked 
him  for  it  and  said,  "  The  case  is  quite  plain,  there  are  bigots 
both  for  predestination  and  against  it.  God  is  sending  a 
message  to  those  on  either  side,  but  neither  will  receive  it, 
unless  from  one  who  is  of  their  own  opinion.  Therefore,  for  a 
time,  you  are  suffered  to  be  of  one  opinion  and  I  of  another. 
But  when  His  time  is  come,  God  will  make  us  both  of  one 
mind."  Soon  after  this  Whitefield  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Eng- 
land, "  For  Christ's  sake,  desire  brother  Wesley  to  avoid 
disputing  with  me.  I  think  I  had  rather  die  than  see  a  divi- 
sion between  us;  and  yet  how  can  we  walk  together  if  we 
oppose  each  other."  "For  Christ's  sake,  if  possible,  never 
speak  against  election  in  your  sermons."  Yet  while  Whitefield 
from  America  was  thus  laboring  hard  to  prevent  a  separation, 
some  of  the  Calvinistic  Friends  in  England  were  urging  it  on. 
Charged  by  a  correspondent  with  not  preaching  the  gospel, 
because  he  did  not  preach  the  doctrine  of  election,  without 
even  consulting  with  his  friends  or  considering  the  propriety  of 
engaging  in  such  a  controversy,  Wesley  "  drew  a  lot  for  his 
direction,  and  the  lot  was,  'preach  and  print!  "  Whereupon  he 
preached  a  "  most  impassioned"  sermon  against  election  and 
predestination  from  Romans  viii.  32,  and  printed  it.  At 
Whitefield's  request,  who  was  then  in  England,  its  publication 
was  for  a  while  deferred,  but  after  his  departure  for  America  it 
was  soon  scattered  broadcast.  In  speaking  of  the  sermon, 
Whitefield  says,  "I  find  it  has  had  its  expected  success;  it  has 
set  the  nation  a-disputing."  Whitefield  expostulated  with 
Wesley  for  printing  this  sermon.  Yet  Rev.  Mr.  Tyerman,  in 
his  "Life  of  Wesley"  says,  "In  some  respects  it  was  the  most 
13 


194  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

iinpwi  tant  sermon  Wesley  ever  issued."  It  led  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Calvinistic  Methodists  and  the  separation  of  White- 
field  and  Wesley, "  which,  prospectively  viewed,"  says  Mr.  Tyer- 
man,  "  was  really  one  of  the  greatest  events  of  the  religion  of 
the  age." 

Whitefield  received  a  copy  of  the  sermon  at  Bethesda,  and 
in  replying  to  it  he  said  to  Wesley,  "  Had  not  your  name, 
dear  sir,  been  prefixed  to  it,  I  could  not  have  been  so 
uncharitable  as  to  think  you  were  the  author  of  such  sophistry." 
Thus  Wesley  had  begun  the  discussion,  but  Whitefield 
apparently  assuming  a  tone  of  authority,  said  to  him,  "  Give 
me  leave  with  all  humility  to  exhort  you  not  to  be  strenuous 
in  opposing  the  doctrines  of  election  and  final  perseverance, 
when,  by  your  own  confession,  you  have  not  the  witness  of 
the  Spirit  within  yourself,  and,  consequently,  are  not  a  proper 
judge.  I  am  assured  God  has  now  for  some  years  given  this 
living  witness  in  my  soul."  With  all  these  trials,  Whitefield 
enjoyed  much  of  the  Saviour's  presence.  At  one  time  he  says, 
"I  feel  His  blessed  Spirit  daily  filling  my  soul  and  body,  as 
plain  as  I  feel  the  air  which  I  breathe,  or  the  food  which  I  eat." 
Again  he  says,  "I  have  now  such  large  incomes  from  above 
and  such  precious  communications  from  our  dear  Lord  Jesus, 
that  my  body  sometimes  can  scarcely  sustain  them."  "  I  often 
sit  in  silence,  offering  my  soui  as  so  much  clay,  to  be  stamped 
just  as  my  heavenly  Potter  pleases:  and  while  I  am  musing,  I 
am  often  filled,  as  it  were,  with  the  fullness  of  God.  I  am  fre- 
quently at  Calvary,  and  frequently  on  Mount  Tabor,  but  always 
assured  of  my  Lord's  everlasting  love.  Our  dear  Lord 
sweetly  fills  me  with  His  presence.  My  heaven  is  begun 
indeed.  I  feast  on  the  fitted  calf"  These  sweet  foretastes  of 
heaven  led  Whitefield  to  contemplate  with  great  satisfaction 
the  prospect  of  persecution  and  martyrdom.     He  says,  "My 


HIS   SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY.  195 

trials  are  yet  to  come."  "The  time  of  temptation  will  l.)c  when 
we  are  thrust  into  an  inner  prison  and  feel  the  iron  entering 
even  into  our  souls.  But  if  Thou,  O  dearest  Redeemer,  wilt 
strengthen  mc  in  the  inner  man,  let  enemies  plunge  me  into  a 
fiery  furnace  or  throw^  me  into  a  den  of  lions."  "  For  faith  in 
Jesus  turns  a  prison  into  a  palace,  and  makes  a  bed  of  flame 
become  a  betl  of  down."  "  Let  us  suffer  for  Jesus  with  a 
cheerful  heart!  His  love  will  sweeten  every  cup,  though  ever 
so  bitter.  A  scene  of  suffering  lies  before  us.  Who  knows 
but  we  may  wade  to  our  Saviour  through  a  sea  of  blood?  I 
expect  to  die  for  His  great  name's  sake.  'Twill  be  sweet  to 
wear  a  martyr's  crown."  Yet,  .still  striving  to  prevent  a  dis- 
union, and  opposing  Wesley's  Arminian  doctrines,  Whitefield 
now  wrote  him  the  following  pointed  letter: 

Boston,  September  28,  1740. 
Dear  Bkother  Wkslky  :• — What  mean  you  by  disputing  in  all  your  letters? 
May  God  give  you  to  know  yourself,  and  then  you  will  not  plead  for  absolute  per- 
fection ;  or  call  the  doctrine  of  election  a  "  doctrine  of  devils."  My  dear  brother, 
take  heed  ;  see  you  are  in  Christ  a  new  creature.  Beware  of  a  false  peace ;  strive 
to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate ;  and  give  all  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and 
election  sure.  Remember  you  are  but  a  babe  in  Christ,  if  so  much.  Let  God 
teach  you,  and  He  will  lead  you  into  all  truth.  I  love  you  heartily ;  I  pray  you 
may  be  kept  from  error,  both  in  principle  and  practice.  Salute  all  the  brethren. 
If  you  must  dispute,  stay  till  you  are  master  of  your  subject ;  otherwise  you  will 
hurt  the  cause  you  would  defend.  Study  to  adorn  the  gospel  of  our  I..ord  in  all 
things ;  and  forget  not  lo  pray  for 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

George  Whitefield. 

Again,  he  says  to  Wesley,  "Why  will  you  dispute?  I  am 
willing  to  go  with  you  to  prison  and  to  death,  but  I  am  not 
willing  to  oppose  you.  O,  that  there  may  be  harmony  and 
very  intimate  union  between  us.  My  dear  brother,  for  Christ's 
sake,  avoid  all  disputation.  Do  not  oblige  me  to  preach  against 
you ;  I  had  rather  die." 


196  LIFE    OF    WlilTEFIELD. 

Yet,  constrained  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  God,  the  Church, 
and  his  own  followers,  Whitefield  now  reluctantly  took  up  the 
pen  to  write  against  Wesley,  His  Boston  letter  to  Wesley,  of 
September  25,  1740,  expostulating  with  him  both  about  the 
matter  and  publication  of  his  "obnoxious"  anti-calvinistic 
sermon  on  free  grace,  was  published  by  his  London  friends, 
without  either  his  or  Wesley's  permission,  and  scattered 
through  Wesley's  congregation  at  the  Foundry.  "Wesley, 
holding  one  in  his  hand,  stated  to  the  congregation  the  fact  of 
its  surreptitious  publication,"  and  saying,  "  I  will  do  just  what 
I  believe  Mr.  Whitefield  would,  were  he  here  himself,"  he  tore 
it  in  pieces.  "  Every  person  present  followed  his  example." 
We  don't  believe  Whitefield  would  have  done  any  such  thing. 
Dreading  the  impending  collision,  while  sailing  home  on  the 
troubled  ocean,  after  publishing  his  reply  to  Wesley's  "obnox- 
ious "  sermon  on  free  grace,  Whitefield  exclaimed  to  him,  "  O 
my  dear  brethren,  my  heart  almost  bleeds  within  me !  Me- 
thinks  I  could  be  willing  to  tarry  here  on  the  waters  forever, 
rather  than  come  to  England  to  oppose  you."  Yet  feeling 
that  the  doctrinal  chasm  had  now  become  so  wide,  he  thought 
a  separation  almost  inevitable.  And  having  fasted  and  prayed 
and  besought  the  Wesleys  to  pray  for  him,  he  was  so  much 
strengthened  that  he  was  enabled  to  say,  "  The  Lord  is  girding 
me  for  the  battled  Under  this  state  of  feeling  he  reached  Lon- 
don, where  he  found  his  special  friend,  Charles  Wesley.  After 
an  affectionate  interview  with  him,  he  said  "  It  would  have 
melted  any  heart,  to  have  heard  us  weeping  after  prayer,  that, 
if  possible,  the  breach  might  be  prevented."  And  standing 
among  the  scenes  of  his  former  success  and  glory,"  Old  feel- 
ings of  respect  and  love  revived  with  so  much  strength  in  his 
heart,  that  he  then  felt  that  he  could  never  preach  against  the 
Wesleys.     Yet  tried  by  the  folly  of  Wesley's  adherents  and  by 


HIS   SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY.  I97 

the  treachery  of  his  own,  when  Wesley  went  to  hint  in  London 
to  see  if  the  breach  could  not  yet  be  healed,  the  matter  had 
gone  so  far  that  "  Whitefield  honestly  told  him  that  they 
preached  two  different  gospels,  and  therefore,  he  would  not 
join  with  him,  but  would  publicly  preach  against  him  wherever 
he  preached  at  all."  (Gillies.)  Thus  the  unhappy  breach 
between  these  two  earnest  Christian  workers  was  consummated. 

And  while  Whitefield  lays  the  blame  of  the  rupture  upon 
Wesley,  Wesley  lays  it  upon  Whitefield,  and  says,  "  It  lay  in 
his  power  to  have  prevented  all." 

"  A  like  scene,"  he  says,  "  opened  at  Bristol,  where  he  was 
denied  preaching  in  the  house  he  had  founded.  Busy-bodies 
on  both  sides  blew  up  the  coals  and  a  breach  ensued,  which 
resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  new  house  and  a  Calvinistic  school 
in  Kingswood.  Here  and  at  other  places,  Whitefield,  Mr.  Cen- 
nick,  and  other  lay-preachers,  preached  to  large  and  deeply- 
affected  congregations. 

Having  stood  "  the  fiery  trial "  of  separation,  with  his  scat- 
tered sheep  roving  around  him,  he  now  sets  in  to  gather  them 
back  to  the  old  fold.  But  confronted  with  a  bitter  prejudice 
and  a  strong  opposition,  for  a  while  he  had  but  little  success ; 
yet  with  his  torrents  of  eloquence  and  indomitable  persever- 
ance these  obstacles  soon  gave  way,  and  "  the  affrighted  sheep" 
soon  came  flocking  home.  Commencing  preaching  again  in 
his  old  field  pulpits,  although  at  first  he  had  but  200  or  300 
hearers,  his  congregation  soon  swelled  to  many  thousands. 

In  this  trying  hour  he  was  very  much  encouraged  in  read- 
ing Beza's  Life  of  Calvin,  where  he  saw  "  Calvin  is  turned  out  of 
Geneva,  but  behold  a  new  church  arises."  Pressed  by  the 
exigency  of  the  case,  he  tried  a  new  project  and  commenced 
preaching  in  Moorfields  on  week  days.  It  was  a  new  thing, 
"  but  in  the  strength   of  God,"  he  says,  "  I   began  on  Good 


198  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

Friday,  preaching  twice  a  day  under  a  tree.  But,"  he  says,  "  I 
Iiad  the  mortification  of  seeing  numbers  of  my  spiritual  chil- 
dren running  by  me  while  preaching,  disdaining  so  much  as  to 
look  at  me,  and  some  of  them  putting  their  fingers  in  their  ears, 
that  they  might  not  hear  a  word  I  said."  "  But  his  congrega- 
tions at  Moorfields  and  Kennington  Common  on  Sundays  were 
now  as  large  as  usual." 

Finding  it  inconvenient  to  preach  twice  a  day  out  doors,  his 
friends  leased   a    lot  and  erected   a  tC7)iporary  shed,  called  the 
Tabernacle,  to  screen  the  people  from  the  cold   and   rain.     He 
disliked    their   building    it    so    near    the    Foundry,  because    it 
looked    like  erecting  altar  against  altar,  but   in   this   case,  he 
says,  "  all  was  wonderfully  overruled  for  good  and  the  further- 
ance of  the  gospel."     "  A  fresh  awakening  immediately  began." 
Congregations  grew   exceedingly  large,  and    at   the   people's 
request,  he  sent  for   Messrs.    Cennick,   Harris  and   other  lay- 
preachers,  to  assist  him.     With  new  fields  now  opening  before 
him,  he  received   many  invitations  where   he  had  never  been 
before.     At    Braintree,    in    Essex,  he  had  a  congregation  of 
upwards  of  ten  thousand.     "  At  Halstead,  Dedham,  Weathers- 
field,  Colchester,  Bury  and   Ipswick,  the  congregations  were 
very  large  and   much  affected."     At  Bristol,  where  he  found 
"  sad  tares  had  been  sown  and  most  monstrous  doctrines  prop- 
agated," he  continued  to  preach  twice   a  day  to  large   congre- 
gations with  great  power.     Encouraged  with  his  big  congrega- 
tions and  large  fields  eveiywhere  white,  ready  for  the   harvest, 
he  says,   "God  enables    me    to  fight  my  way  through"   and 
"  causes  me  to  triumph  in  every  place."     "  The  farther  tve  go 
in  the  spiritual  life,  the  more  cool  and  rational  shall  we  be,  and 
yet  more  truly  zealous.     I  speak  this  from  experience."     During 
a  great  awakening  in  Wiltshire,  although  "he  never  was  more 
embarrassed  as  to  outward  things,"  yet  he  says,  "  My  soul   is 


HIS    SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY.  1 93 

]<ept  in  peace  and  sweetness."  "All  is  ordered  for  the  good  of 
the  church  by  the  Lord  Jesus.  Let  us  keep  close  to  Him,  for 
in  this  trying  time,  we  shall  find  He  has  but  few,  very  few,  true 
followers."  Having  spent  about  a  month  at  Bristol,  he  returned 
to  London  the  first  of  June,  very  much  encouraged.  Here  he 
says,  "  Jesus  rides  on  from  conquering  to  conquer,"  and  with 
"  conversion  work  going  on,"  "outward  enemies  were  now  more 
quiet."  And  encouraged  with  his  great  liberties  in  preaching 
to  very  large  and  solemn  congregations,  he  says,  "  Let  us  not 
fear,"  "Jesus  Christ  giveth  us  the  victory  over  all." 

On  his  return  to  England  he  was  threatened  to  be  arrested 
for  some  ;^300  due  against  him  for  the  Orphan  House,  in 
Georgia.  "  This,"  he  says,  "  drove  me  to  my  knees.  God  gave 
me  to  wrestle  with  strong  crying  and  tears,  both  before  and 
after  I  went  to  bed.  Having,  as  I  thought,  a  full  assurance  of 
immediate  help  from  some  quarter,  I  went  to  sleep  most  com- 
fortably." A  kind  lady  sent  him  what  he  wanted  the  next  day. 
Filled  with  gratitude  for  His  goodness,  he  exclaimed,  "  Praise 
the  Lord,  O  my  soul ! "  Now,  with  "  many  pricked  to  the 
heart"  in  London,  and  with  the  heat  of  the  battle  pretty  well 
over,  "the  work  here,  blessed  be  God,  goes  on  sweetly."  "  All 
things  happen  to  the  furtherance  of  the  Gospel."  Besides  all 
his  other  herculean  labors,  Whitefield  kept  up  a  very  extensive 
correspondence.  Doubtless  he  wrote  more  religious  and  friend- 
ship letters  than  any  other  man.  His  works  contain  about  1500 
of  his  letters.  They  are  ^11  as  rich  as  cream.  In  writing  to  a 
discouraged  brother,  he  says,  "  We  are  apt  to  place  our  happi- 
ness in  places,  and  often  think  we  don't  please  God,  because  we 
do  not  please  ourselves.  But  I  find  the  fault  is  in  the  heart, 
not  the  place!'  For,  "  surely,  if  I  did  not  stand  up  for  free 
distinguishing   grace,  the  very  stones  would   cry  out  against 


200  LIFE    OF    WHlUiFlELD. 

me."  "  The  gospel  runs  and  is  glorified."  "  New  England  is 
in  a  holy  flame."  And  "I  hope  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  will  set 
the  whole  world  in  a  flame." 

He  now  succeeded  so  well  in  going  about  doing  good,  that 
he  says,  "  God  lets  me  see  more  and  more  that  /  must  evan- 
gelize. I  have  no  freedom,  but  in  going  about  to  all  denomina- 
tions. I  cannot  join  with  any  one,  so  as  to  be  fixed  in  any 
particular  place.  Every  one  hath  his  proper  gift.  Field-preach- 
ing is  my  plan.  In  this  I  am  carried  on  as  on  eagles'  wings. 
God  makes  way,  and  gives  me  great  access  everywhere."  On 
returning  from  an  extensive  rural  excursion,  he  says,  "  God  has 
mightily  blessed  my  journey  in  the  country."  Thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands  flocked  to  hear  him  and  gave  him  near  £i?>o 
for  the  Orphan  House.  Having  thus  gathered  his  scattered 
sheep,  and  restored  Israel,  he  says,  "  How  good  is  the  blessed 
Saviour  to  me,  the  chief  of  sinners  !  "  His  power  has  attended 
me  lately,  more  than  ever  before  in  England."  He  never  saw 
the  like  in  London  before.  "  A  mighty  power  almost  continu- 
ally accompanied  the  Word."  Yet,  with  all  the  arduous  labor 
he  performed,  and  the  severe  reproach  he  endured  in  his  Mas- 
ter's cause,  he  says,  "  I  am  ashamed  to  think  how  little  I  do 
and  suffer  for  Him."  "  O,  free  grace !  sovereign  and  elective 
love  !  how  sweet  to  the  soul,  who  really  feels  the  power  of  it !  " 
Although  Whitefield  and  Wesley  held  to  different  creeds,  and 
preached  different  doctrines,*  yet,  both  laboring  for  the  glory 

*JoHN  Wesley's  Calvinism. 

"  Having  a  strong  desire  to  unite  with  Mr.  Whitefield,"  says  Wesley,  "  I  wrote 
down  my  sentiments  as  plain  as  I  could,  in  the  following  terms : 

"  There  are  three  points  in  debate  :  I.  Unconditional  election.  2.  Irresistible 
grace.     3.  Final  perseverance. 

"  With  regard  to  the  First,  unconditional  election,  I  believe,  That  God,  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  did  unconditionally  elect  certain  persons  to  do  certain 
works,  as  Paul  to  preach  the  Gospel. 


HIS    SEPARATION    FROM    WESLEY.  20I 

of  the  same  common  Lord,  "  they  were  kept  from  anathema- 
tizing each  other."  With  the  old  fires  of  Christian  love  and 
friendship  still  burning  within  them,  their  separation  was  of 
short  duration.  Through  the  mediation  of  their  common,  warm- 
hearted friend,  Howell  Harris,  a  reconciliation  was  soon  effected. 
Confessing  his  sorrow,  and  asking  Wesley's  pardon  for  reveal- 
ing the  secret  of  his  casting  lots,  Whitefield  said,  in  a  letter  to 
him  the  following  October,  "  I  find  I  love  you  as  much  as  ever, 
and  pray  God,  if  it  be  His  blessed  will,  that  we  may  all  be 
united  together.  May  all  disputings  cease,  and  each  of  us  talk 
of  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified."  Shortly  after, 
Wesley  wrote  to  Whitefield,  and  said,  "Let  old  things  pass 
away,  and  all  things  become  new,  and  let  controversy  die." 
To  which  Whitefield  said,  "  Amen."  And  thanking  Wesley  for 
praying  for  him,  Whitefield  prayed,  "  O  that  nothing  but  love, 
lowliness  and  simplicity  may  be  among  us.  Let  us  bear  with, 
and  forbear  one  another  in  love."  Having  now  passed  cordial 
letters,  held  brotherly  meetings,  and  exchanged  pulpits  with 
Mr.  Wesley,  Whitefield  subscribed  himself,  "  Your  most  affec- 
tionate brother,  G.  W." 

Though  thus  united  in  heart  and  aim,  yet  differing  in  doc- 
trines and  plans,  each  one  "  pursued  his  own  separate  course." 
And  thus  "by  separating  from  different   batteries,"  no   doubt 

"  That  He  has  unconditionally  elected  some  persons  to  many  peculiar  advantages. 

"  And  I  do  not  deny  (though  I  cannot  prove  it  is  so)  that  He  has  uncondition- 
ally elected  some  persons,  thence  eminently  styled  '  the  elect,'  to  eternal  glory. 

"  With  regard  to  the  Second,  irresistible  grace,  I  believe  that  the  grace  which 
brings  faith,  and  thereby  salvation,  into  the  soul,  is  irresistible  at  that  moment. 

"  With  regard  to  the  Third,  final  perseverance,  I  believe  that  there  is  a  state 
attainable  in  this  life,  from  which  a  man  cannot  finally  fall. 

"  That  he  has  attained  this  who  is,  according  to  St.  Paul's  account,  '  a  new 
creature ;'  that  is,  who  can  say,  Old  things  are  passed  away ;  all  things  '  in  me  ' 
arc  become  new.  And  1  do  not  deny  that  all  those  eminently  styled  '  the  elect,' 
will  infallibly  persevere  to  the  end." — Wesley's  lVorks,Vol.  s\\.,pp.  480-81.  Pub- 
lished by  Carlton  &>  Phillips,  New  York.     i8_5j. 


202  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

they  were  made  more  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 
For,  says  Dr.  Phillips,  "  It  was  a  happy  thing  for  the  world  and 
the  Church,  that  they  were  not  of  one  opinion  :  for  had  they 
united  in  either  extreme,  truth  would  have  made  less  progress. 
It  was  well,  therefore,  that  they  modified  each  other :  for  they 
were  '  two  suns,'  which  could  not  have  fixed  in  one  meridian, 
without  setting  on  fire  the  whole  course  of  sound  theology." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Ills  FIRST  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND, 


^))^"^J|/Y^|^1TII    his    buoyant    soul,  towering   faith,    and 
!»l    m    I     claring  courage,  Whitefield  could  not  be  kept 


"T>n'^ 


J. 


3 


down.  Rising  out  of  the  lowering  cloud  that 
gatliered  around  him  in  England,  and  urged 
by  many  pressing  invitations,  he  sailed  for 
Scotland,  July  25,  1741.  After  a  pleasant 
voyage  of  five  days,  he  reached  Edinburgh 
on  the  30th,  and  was  most  gladly  received  by 
mail)'  distinguished  citizens.  Coming  with  his  lofty  prestige, 
there  was  much  anxiety  as  to  where  he  should  preach  Jirsf. 
The  Edinburgh  people  were  very  anxious  to  have  him  preach 
there  inmiediately,  but  as  the  Erskines  had  been  praying  for 
him  for  years,  and  as  they  had  first  invited  him  to  Scotland,  he 
says,  "  I  was  determined  to  give  them  the  first  offer  of  my  poor 
ministrations."  Accordingly,  he  went,  the  next  day,  to  Dum- 
fermline,  to  see,  and  to  preach  for,  Mr.  Ralph  Erskine.  "  He 
received  him  very  lovingly."  Upon  a  short  notice  he  preached 
for  him  to  an  immense  congregation  ;  and  when  he  gave  out 
his  text,  "the  rustling,  made  by  opening  so  many  Bibles  all  at 
once,  very  much  surprised  him."  He  had  never  seen  the  like 
before.  No  sooner  had  the  Seceders  got  hold  of  Whitefield, 
than  they  began  to  contrive  to  win  him  over  to  their  party. 
After  sermon  they  entertained  him  with  accounts  of  their  suc- 
cess. One  told  him  "  that  at  one  of  their  late  meetings,  a 
woman  was  so  deeply  affected,  that  she  was  obliged  to  stop  her 

( 203 ) 


204  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

mouth  with  a  handkerchief  to  keep  herself  from  crying  out." 
"They  urged  a  longer  stay  in  order  to  converse  more  closely, 
and  set  him  right  about  church  government,  and  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant."  But  he  told  them  that  he  had  agreed 
to  preach  in  Edinburgh  the  next  day,  but  at  their  request  he 
would  return  in  a  few  days  and  meet  the  Associate  Presbytery  at 
Mr.  Erskine's.  Agreeing  to  this,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Erskine, 
he  went  the  next  day  and  preached  in  Edinburgh,  in  the  Or- 
phan House  Park,  on  Rom.  xiv.  17,  to  a  very  large  and  deeply 
affected  congregation.  After  sermon  many,  with  some  of  the 
nobility,  came  to  salute  him  ;  among  whom  was  an  intelligent 
Quaker,  who,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  said;  "Friend  Geor-gc,  I 
am  as  thou  art ;  I  am  for  bringing  all  to  the  life  and  power  of 
the  everlasting  God  :  and,  therefore,  if  thou  wilt  not  quarrel 
with  me  about  my  hat,  I  will  not  quarrel  with  thee  about  thy 
gown." 

On  the  following  Sabbath  evening  he  preached  again  in  the 
same  place  to  over  15,000;  and  on  Monday,  Wednesday  and 
Friday  evenings  t6  nearly  as  many  very  deeply  impressed  hear- 
ers. According  to  promise,  after  preaching  at  Canongate 
church,  he  returned  to  Dumfermline  to  meet  the  Associate 
Presb}d;ery.  With  seven  ministers  and  two  elders,  he  pro- 
nounced them  "  a  set  of  grave  venerable  men  !"  Upon  his  en- 
tering they  soon  proposed  to  elect  a  moderator  and  proceed  to 
business.  "What  business  ?"  he  enquired.  They  answered, 
"To  discourse  and  set  him  right  about  church  government, 
and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant."  He  replied,  they 
might  save  themselves  that  trouble,  for  he  had  no  scruples 
about  it ;  and  that  settling  church  government  and  preaching 
about  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  was  not  his  plan. 

After  an  interchange  of  views,  and  Whitefield  had  told  them 
that  he  had  never  closely  studied  the  Solemn  League  and  Cov 


HIS    FIRST    Vl:3lT    Tu    SCOTLAND.  2O5 

enant,  being  engaged,  he  thought  about  matters  of  more  im- 
portance, they  told  him  "that  every  pin  of  the  tabernacle  was 
precious."  To  which  he  said  in  every  building  there  were  out- 
side and  inside  workmen  ;  that  the  latter,  at  present,  was  his 
province  ;  that  if  they  thought  themselves  called  to  the  former, 
they  might  proceed  in  their  own  way,  and  he  would  in  his. 
He  asked  them  what  they  would  have  him  do  ?  They  said, 
"  Preach  only  for  them."  He  asked,  "  Why  only  for  them  ?" 
Mr.  R.  Erskine  said,  "  We  are  the  Lord's  people."  "  He  then 
asked,  were  no  others  the  Lord's  people  but  themselves  ?  If 
not,  and  if  others  were  the  devil's  people,  they  had  more  need 
to  be  preached  to  ;  and  that  if  the  Pope  himself  would  lend  him' 
his  pulpit,  he  would  gladly  proclaim  in  it  the  righteousness  of 
Jesus  Christ."  They  did  not  wish  him  to  labor  in  the  church 
from  which  they  had  seceded,  saying,  "  God  had  left  ity 
"Then,"  said  he,  "it  is  the  more  necessary  for  me  to  preach  in 
it,  to  endeavor  to  bring  Him  back." 

But  as  Whitefield  had  been  the  instrument  in  winning  so 
many  souls  in  England  and  America,  Mr.  Erskine  urged  that 
he  should  go  and  gather  them  into  churches,  establish  Presby- 
teries, ordain  elders  and  take  care  of  them.  "  Unto  all  of 
which  Mr.  Whitefield  replied,  that  he  reckoned  it  his  present 
duty  to  go  on  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  without  proceeding  to 
any  such  work."  He  says,  "  I  never  met  with  such  narrow 
spirits."  They  were  "  so  confined  that  they  will  not  so  much 
as  hear  me  preach,  unless  I  only  will  join  with  them."  Refus- 
ing to  shackle  himself  with  their  narrow  platform  and  "  chain 
of  exclusivencss,"  he  says,  "I  thought  their  foundation  was  too 
narrow  for  any  high  house  to  be  built  upon."  Having  thus 
found  that  their  views  of  church  government  were  too  narrow 
for  him,  and  his  too  wide  for  them,  the  Conference  resulted,  he 
says,  in  '^  a)i  open  breach."     It  so  .grieved  his  tender  heart  that 


206  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

he  says,  "I  could  scarce  refrain  from  bursting  into  a  flood  of 
tears.  I  retired,  I  wept,  I  prayed,  and  after  preaching  in  the 
fields,  sat  down  and  dined  with  them  and  then  took  my  final 
leave.  I  think  I  have  now  seen  an  end  of  all  perfection.  Thus 
was  I  called  to  make  another  sacrifice  of  my  affections." 

After  preaching  at  Innerkeithing  and  Queensferry,  he  re- 
turned to  Edinburgh,  where  they  were  waiting  with  much  anx- 
iety to  hear  the  results  of  the  conference.  Received  with  open 
arms  and  open  hearts,  he  continued  to  preach  there  to  vast 
crowds,  two  or  three  times  a  day  for  some  weeks.  The 
churches  being  too  small,  he  generally  preached  in  the  Orphan 
House  Park,  where,  says  Dr.  Philip,  "he  revived  the  scenes  of 
Moorfields  and  Blackheath."  Persons  of  all  ranks,  high  and 
low,  flocked  to  hear  him.  On  August  15,  1 741,  he  wrote  to  a 
friend  (from  Edinburgh)  saying,  "  It  would  make  your  heart 
leap  for  joy,  to  be  now  in  Edinburgh.  I  question  if  there  be 
not  upwards  of  three  hundred  in  this  city  seeking  after  Jesus. 
Every  morning  I  have  a  constant  levee  of  wounded  souls,  many 
of  whom  are  quite  slain  by  the  law.  Many  come  to  me  daily 
crying  out,  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  O,  my  dear  brother, 
I  am  quite  amazed  when  I  think  what  God  has  done  here  in 
two  weeks.  My  printed  journals  and  sermons  have  been  blessed 
in  an  uncommon  manner.  I  am  only  afraid  lest  the  people 
will  idolize  the  instruments,  and  not  look  enough  to  Jesus. 
Never  did  I  see  so  many  Bibles  and  people  looking  into  them." 
"At  Crief  they  had  a  most  precious  meeting."  And  at  Galla- 
shiels,  he  says  "Everywhere  Jesus  Christ  is  getting  Himself  the 
the  victory."  When  he  preached  in  the  Hospital  Park  to  the 
children  of  Edinburgh,  the  congregation  numbered  hear  20,000. 
Many  of  them  were  deeply  convicted.  Here  they  raised  him 
;^500  in  money  and  goods  for  his  orphans.  Sometimes  the  con- 
tributions were  so  liberal  that  some  feared  he  would  impoverish 


HIS   FIRST    VISIT    TO    SCOTLAND.  20/ 

the  country.  A  private  contribution  was  proposed  for  himself; 
but  he  refused  it,  saying,  "I  make  no  purse."  "  What  I  have, 
I  "give  away."  "  Poor,  yet  making  many  rich,  shall  be  my 
motto  still." 

As  the  magistrates  refused  him  the  church-yard  to  preach 
in  at  Aberdeen,  when  he  first  went  there,  "  things  looked 
a  little  gloomy."  But  after  preaching  a  few  times  the  congre- 
gations were  so  large,  and  the  effect  so  deep,  "that  liglit  and 
life  fltd  all  aroiind!'  All  opposition  ceased,  and  with  many 
under  deep  conviction,  "  all  was  hushed !  and  more  than  sol- 
emn." (W.)  "  Where  things  appeared  most  unlikely  some 
time  ago,  now  Christ  is  riding  in  triumph,  going  forth  conquer- 
ing and  to  conquer." 

He  enjoyed  so  much  of  God's  presence,  and  such  a  gush- 
ing flow  of  warm  friendship  in  Edinburgh,  that  he  says,  "  I 
scarce  have  known  whether  I  have  been  in  or  out  of  the  body." 
"  Night  and  day  Jesus  fills  me  with  His  love."  "  The  love  of 
Christ  quite  strikes  me  dumb."  "  I  walk  continually  in  the 
comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  "  The  sight  I  have  of  God  by 
faith,  ravishes  my  soul."  "  Carried  on  from  conquering  to  con- 
quer," he  says,  "  Jesus  causes  me  to  triumph  in  every  place." 
In  September  he  went  to  Glasgow  and  preached  ten  ser- 
mons, with  about  fifty  hopeful  conversions.  Many  others 
were  very  deeply  impressed.  "  Not  satisfied  with  hearing, 
each  sermon  was  printed  by  itself,  and  put  immediately 
into  circulation."  With  large  congregations  the  contribu- 
tions for  Georgia  were  very  liberal.  "  With  great  regret  he 
left  Glasgow,  to  be  received  with  great  joy  at  Edinburgh." 
Just  before  he  left  Scotland,  he  says,  "  To-day,"  October  27, 
(1741,)  "Jesus  has  enabled  me  to  preach  seve}i  times  "  in  Edin- 
burgh. "  Yet  I  am  now  as  fresh  as  when  I  arose  in  the  morn- 
ing.    The  Lord  is  doing  very  great  things  here.     His  presence 


208  LIFE    OF    WIUTEFIELD. 

was  very  wonderful.  The  Holy  Spirit  seemed  to  come  down 
like  a  mighty  rushing  wind.  The  mourning  of  the  people  was 
like  the  weeping  in  the  valley  of  Hadadrimmon."  "  The  girls 
and  boys  in  the  Hospital  were  exceedingly  affected."  When 
he  preached  in  the  "Old  People's  Hospital,"  "all  the  congrega- 
tion were  so  moved,  that  very  few,  if  any,  could  refrain  from 
ciying  out."  One  young  gentleman,  when  tempted  to  think 
that  he  was  seeking  an  imaginary  refuge  instead  of  the  Saviour, 
"  was  made  to  cry  out  in  prayer,  Lord,  I  want  nothing  else, 
and  will  have  nothing  short  of  the  very  Christ  of  God." 

Touching  the  results  of  his  first  visit  to  Edinburgh,  he  says, 
"  Glory  be  to  God,  He  is  doing  great  things  here."  An  Edin- 
burgh minister  says,  "  New  meetings  for  prayer  and  conference 
are-  erecting  everywhere."  There  were  then  twenty-five  or 
thirty  of  them.  Among  them  were  several  meetings  of  boys 
and  girls.  Even  the  young  women  had  their  prayer-meetings. 
At  one  of  which  they  were  "  all  wet  with  floods  of  tears, 
meked  down  with  love  to  Christ  and  affection  to  one  another 
for  Christ's  sake."  Dr.  Muir  says,  "  It  is  most  amazing  to  see 
what  progress  they  made  in  Christian  knowledge.  The  young 
converts  were  very  active  in  striving  to  win  souls.  With  so 
many  conversions  and  awakenings,  together  with  the  very  deep 
general  interest  awakened,  Whitefield  says,  "  The  good  that 
has  been  done,  is  inexpressible."  Even  "  the  hearts  of  his  en- 
emies were  melted  down  by  his  preaching."  "  He  made  such 
bold  attacks  upon  Satan's  kingdom,  "  that  Rev.  Willison,  of 
Dundee,  says  it  is  rare  to  see  such  ''a  flaming  fire  for  God." 
His  success  here  was  so  great,  says  Dr.  Philip,  that  "  Next  to 
Knox,  Whitefield  deserves  a  monument  on  Colton  Hill,  as  the 
second  reformer  of  the  metropolis."  He  left  Scotland  October 
28,  174.1,  for  Abergavenny  in  Wales. 


CHAPTER     XX 


ins    COURTSHIP    AND    MARRIAGE, 

URDENED  with  the  cares  of  the  Orphan 
House,  and  "  beheving  it  to  be  God's  will  that 
he  should  marry,"  Whitefield  now  began  to 
look  out  for  a  wife.  His  manner  of  courting 
and  views  about  getting  married  were  very 
peculiar.  With  his  strong  faith,  after  much 
earnest  prayer  for  direction,  he  left  it  all  to  the 
Lord,  and  said,  "I  would  not  marry  but/or  Him 
and  in  Him,  for  ten  thousand  worlds."  He  courted  by  letter, 
and,  tru.sting  in  the  Lord  for  direction,  he  "popped  the  ques- 
tion" the  first  letter.  "Yet  being,"  he  says,  "  free  from  that 
foolish  passion  the  world  calls  love,"  he  was  prepared  for  a 
refusal. 

He  first  picked  on  Miss'E D ,  whom  he  sometimes 

thought  would  be  his  wife,  as  "she  had  often  been  impressed 
upon  his  heart."  He  therefore  wrote  to  her  parents,  to  know 
whether  they  thought  she  would  suit  him,  and,  if  so,  "would 
they  be  pleased  to  give  him  leave  to  propose  marriage  to  her;" 
stating  that  they  need  not  be  afraid  of  sending  a  refusal,  as 
that  "would  fully  convince  him  that  she  was  not  the  person 
appointed  by  God  for  him."  To  cut  the  matter  short,  he 
enclosed  a  letter  to  the  daughter  in  the  one  to  the  parents, 
requesting  them,  after  praying  over  the  matter,  to  deliver  it  to 
her  if  they  approved  of  the  proposition;  if  not,  to  say  nothing 
14  ( 209 


P.IO  LIFE    OF    WIUTEFIELD. 

about  it.  Whether  they  handed  over  the  letter  we  know  not ; 
"he  received  no  favorable  answer"  (Dr.  Wakely).  But  it  is  a 
wonderful  letter.  It  is  no  wonder  it  proved  a  failure.  White- 
field,  though  so  very  skillful  in  winning  souls  to  God,  seems 
very  awkward  when  he  comes  to  win  a  woman's  heart. 

HIS    FIRST    LOVE    LETTER.  ^ 

O);  Dflard-thc  Susquehanna,  April  4th,  1^40. 

To  Miss  E 

Be  not  surprised  at  the  contents  of  tliis  :  Tiie  letter  sent  to  your  honored  father 
and  mother  will  acquaint  you  with  the  reasons.  Do  you  think  you  could  undergo 
the  fatigues  that  must  necessarily  attend  being  joined  to  one,  who  is  every  day  liable 
to  be  called  out  to  sirffer  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  ?  Can  you  bear  to  leave  your 
father  and  kindred's  house,  and  trust  on  Him(who  feedeth  the  young  ravens  that  call 
upon  Him)  for  your  own  and  children's  support,  suppose  it  should  please  Him  to 
bless  you  with  any  ?  Can  you  undertake  to  help  a  husband  in  the  charge  of  a 
family,  consisting  of  perhaps  a  hundred  persons  ?  Can  you  bear  the  inclemency 
of  the  air,  both  as  to  cold  and  heat,  in  a  foreign  climate  ?  Can  you,  when  you 
have  a  husband,  be  as  though  you  had  none,  and  willingly  part  with  him,  even 
for  a  long  season,  when  his  Lord  and  Master  shall  call  him  forth  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  command  him  to  leave  you  behind  ?  If,  after  seeking  to  God  for 
direction,  and  searching  your  heart,  you  can  say,  "  I  can  do  all  those  things, 
through  Christ  strengthening  me,"  what  if  you  and  I  were  joined  together  in  the 
Lord,  and  you  came  with  me  at  my  return  from  England,  to  be  a  help-meet  for 
me  in  the  management  of  the  Orphan  House?  I  have  great  reason  to  believe  it 
is  the  divine  will  that  I  should  alter  my  condition,  and  often  thought  you  were  the 
person  appointed  for  me.  I  shall  wait  on  God  for  direction,  and  heartily  entreat 
him,  that  if  this  motion  be  not  of  Him,  it  may  come  to  naught.  I  write  thus  plainly 
because,!  trust,  I  write  not  from  any  other  principles  but  the  love  of  God.  I  shall 
make  it  my  business  to  call  upon  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  would  advise  you  to  consult 
both  Him  and  your  friends.  For  in  order  to  obtain  a  blessing,  we  should  call  both 
the  Lord  Jesus  and  His  disciples  to  the -marriage.  I  much  like  the  manner  of 
Isaac's  marrying  with  Rebekah,  and  think  no  marriage  can  succeed  well,  unless 
both  parties  concerned  are  like-minded  with  Tobias  and  his  wife.  I  think  I  can 
call  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  to  witness  that  I  desire  "  to  take  you, 
my  sister,  to  wife,  not  for  lust,  but  uprightly  ;"  and  therefore  I  hope  He  will  merci- 
fully ordain,  if  it  be  His  blessed  will  we  should  be  joined  together,  that  we    may 


HIS    COURTSHIP    AND    MARRIAGE.  211 

walk  as  Zachary  and  Elizabeth  did,  in  all  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless. 
I  make  no  great  profession  to  you,  because  I  believe  you  think  me  sincere.  The 
passionate  e.xpressions  which  carnal  courtiers  use,  I  think,  ought  to  be  avoided  by 
those  that  would  marry  in  the  Lord.  I  can  only  promise,  by  the  help  of  GoD, 
to  keep  my  matrimonial  vow,  and  to  do  what  I  can  towards  helping  you  on  in 
the  great  work  of  your  salvation.  If  you  think  marriage  will  be  any  way  prejudi- 
cial to  your  better  part,  be  so  kind  as  to  send  me  a  denial.  I  would  not  be  a  snare 
to  you  for  the  world.  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  speaking  your  mind.  I  trust  I 
love  you  only  for  GoD,  and  desire  to  be  joined  to  you  only  by  His  command,  and 
for  His  sake.     With  fear  and  much  trembling  I  write,  and  shall  patiently  tarry  the 

Lord's  leisure,  till  He  is  pleased  to  incline  you,  dear    Miss  E ,  to  send  an 

answer  to  Your  affectionate  brother,  friend  and  servant  in  Christ, 

G.  W. 

This  letter  was  written  while  he  was  saihng  from  Savannah, 
Georgia,  to  Philadelphia.  Here  it  will  be  seen  at  once  that 
Mr.  Whitefield,  with  his  characteristic  simplicity  and  open- 
heartedness,  comes  directly  to  the  point  and  begins  his  wooing 
work  by  asking  the  young  lady  a  great  many  very  hard  ques- 
tions. But  in  a  few  months  he  found  out  that  "  she  was  in  a 
seeking  state  only."  "Surely  that  will  not  do,"  he  said;  "I 
would  have  one  that  is  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  / 
wajtt  a  gracious  woman,  that  is  dead  to  everything  but  jfesus, 
and  is  qualified  to  govern  children."  Although  disappointed 
in  his  first  choice,  Whitefield  did  not  give  up  the  pursuit.  But, 
like  Washington  and  Wesley,  he  married  a  widow.  Passing 
over  into  Wales,  without  giving  us  any  further  account  of  his 
courtship,  upon  reaching  Abergavenny,  November  loth,  1741, 
he  was  married  "  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,"  the  next  day,  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  James,  a  widow  of  thirty-six  years  old.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Burnell.  He  says  she  was  "  neither  rich  in  fortune 
nor  beautiful  in  person,  but,  I  believe,  a  true  child  of  God,  and 
would  not,  I  think,  attempt  to  hinder  me  in  my  work  for  the 
world."  "  She  had  been  a  housekeeper  for  many  years." 
"Once  gay,  but,  for    three    years    last  past,  a    despised    fol- 


212  LIFE    OF    WUrJT.FlELD. 

lower  of  the  Lamb  of  God."  She  seems  to  have  been  quite 
a  heroine.  While  Mr.  Whitefield  was  preaching  one  day,  when 
he  apj^r-ehended  great  danger  from  the  pelting  stones  of  a 
furious  mob,  she  plucked  his  gown  and  said,  "  Now,  George, 
/'A. ,"  iJic  man  for  God!'  This  so  inspired  him  with  fresh 
courage  and  strength  that  he  preached  with  such  great  power 
that  the  enemy  fled,  "and  victory  was  proclaimed  on  the 
Lord's  side."  Again,  when  they  were  sailing  for  America, 
when  their  ship,  the  Wilmington,  was  about  to  be  attacked  by 
an  enemy's  vessel,  she,  Mrs.  W.,  after  preparing  herself  for  the 
worst,  fell  to  making  cartridges  for  the  sailors,  "while  her 
husband  wanted  to  go  into  the  hold  of  the  ship,  hearing  that 
was  the  usual  place  for  the  chaplain." 

HIS    DOMESTIC    LIFE. 

Although  Dr.  Southey  says  "  Whitefield's  marriage  was  not 
a  happy  one,"  and  although  his  friend,  Cornelius  Winter,  says 
that  Whitefield  "  was  not  happy  in  his  wife,"  yet  says  Rev.  Dr. 
Wakely,  "  this  appears  to  be  a  mistake,"  for  "  he  speaks  of  her 
in  the  most  endearing  manner;"  repeatedly  calling  her,  "  My 
dear  wife,"  "  My  dear  love,"  etc.  "  We  lead  a  moving  life,  but 
I  trust  we  move  heavenward.  We  are  more  than  happy. 
We  go  on  like  two  happy  pilgrims." 

Being  advised  to  take  his  wife  out  into  the  air,  Mr.  White- 
field  says,  "  I  drove  her  as  well  as  myself,  through  inadvertence, 
into  a  ditch.  Finding  that  we  were  falling,  she  put  her  hand 
across  the  chaise,  and  thereby  preserved  us  both  from  being 
thrown  out.  The  ditch  was  about  fourteen  feet  deep,  but 
blessed  be  God,  though  all  that  saw  us  falling,  cried  out,  '  They 
are  killed  !'  yet,  through  infinite  mercy,  we  received  no  great 
hurt.  The  place  was  very  narrow  near  the  bottom,  and  yet  the 
horse  went  down    as  though  let  down  by  a  pulley.     A  by 


HIS    DUALE-^llC    LIFE.  213 

stander  ran  down  and  catched  hold  of  its  liead,  to  prevent  its 
going  forward.  I  got  upon  its  back  and  was  drawn  out  by  a 
long  whip  ;  whilst  my  wife,  hanging  between  the  chaise  and  the 
bank,  was  pulled  up  on  the  other  side  by  two  or  three  kind  as- 
sistants. Being  both  in  a  comfortable  frame,  I  must  own,  to 
my  shame,  that  I  felt  rather  regret  than  thankfulness  in  escap- 
ing what  I  thought  would  be  a  kind  of  a  translation  to  our 
wished-for  haven.  But  O,  amazing  love  !  we  were  so  strength- 
ened, that  the  chaise  and. horse  being  taken  up,  and  our  bruises 
being  washed ^^with  vinegar  in  a  neighboring  house,  we  went 
on  our  intended  way,  and  came  home  rejoicing  in  God  our 
Saviour."     Their  first  child  was  born  about  a  month  after. 

Mr.  Whitefield  did  not  allow  getting  married  to  interrupt 
his  work.  No  ;  without  any  bridal  tour,  with  Mrs.  Whitefield 
to  help  him,  he  went  "  right  on  "  with  it.  Writing  from  Aber- 
gavenny the  next  week  after  his  marriage,  he  says,  "  God  has 
been  pleased  to  work  by  my  hands  since  I  have  been  in  Wales." 
And  enjoying  so  much  of  His  presence,  he  exclaimed,  "O  stu- 
pendous love  !  O  infinitely  condescending  God  !  "  "  He  has 
begun  and  will  carry  on  a  work  here,  which  will  make  the  ears 
of  His  enemies  tingle." 

Whitefield  was  so  earnestly  engaged  in  his  Master's  work 
that  when  once  called  to  speak  of  his  family,  he  exclaimed, 
"  But  why  talk  of  my  wife  and  little  one  ?  Let  all  be  absorbed 
in  the  thoughts  of  the  love,  sufferings,  free  and  full  salvation  of 
the  infinitely  great  and  glorious  Emmanuel."  He  did  not  even 
take  time  to  be  at  home  when  their  first  child  was  born. 

After  preaching  to  many  thousands  in  the  street  of  some 
neighboring  town,  upon  retiring  to  his  lodgings,  October  5, 
1743,  he  says,  "News  was  brought  to  me  that  the  Lord  had 
given  me  a  son.  This  hastened  me  up  to  London,  where  the 
child   was    born.     It  was   born    in  a   room,"  Whitefield  says, 


214  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

"  which  the  master  of  the  house  had  prepared  as  a  prison  for 
his  wife,  for  coming  to  hear  me.  "With  joy  would  she  often 
look  upon  the  bars  and  staples  and  chains  which  were  fixed  in 
order  to  keep  her  in."  About  a  week  after  his  birth,  I  publicly 
baptized  him  in  the  .tabernacle,  and  in  the  company  of  thou- 
sands, solemnly  gave  him  up  to  that  God  who  g^ve  him  to 
me." 

They  first  went  to  keeping  house  in  London,  near  Moor- 
fields.  They  were  then  so  poor  they  had  to  borrow  furniture. 
To  lessen  expenses  they  soon  moved  to  Abergavenny.  On 
their  way  thither  their  dear  little  son  died  very  suddenly  in  Glou- 
cester, in  the  Bell  Inn,  where  the  father  was  born.  On  reach- 
ing the  house  without  knowing  what  had  happened,  Mr.  White- 
field  inquired  for  the  mother  and  child.  On  hearing  the  child 
was  dead,  he  immediately  called  all  to  join  him  in  prayer.  He 
thanked  God  for  giving  him  a  son,  continuing  him  with  him  so 
long,  and  taking  him  away  so  soon.  All  desired  that  Mr. 
Whitefield  "  would  decline  preaching"  till  the  child  was  buried; 
but  remembering  a  saying  of  good  Mr.  Henry,  "  That  weeping 
must  not  hinder  sowing,"  he  went  on"  and  preached  twice  the 
next  day,  and  also  the  day  following.  He  says  his  text  "All 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,"  "  made 
me  as  willing  to  go  to  my  son's  funferal,  as  to  hear  of  his  birth." 
"  Our  parting  from  him  was  solemn.  We  kneeled  down,  prayed 
and  shed  many  tears,  but  I  hope  tears  of  resignation.  And  as 
he  died  in  the  house  wherein  I  was  born,  he  was  taken  and  laid 
in  the  church  where  I  was  baptized,  first  communicated  and 
first  preached."  Dying  February  8,  1744,  he  was  about  four 
months  old. 


CHAPTER     XXI 


WHITEFIELd's    pitched    battle   with    SATAN. 

lEFORE  recording  the  great  battle,  we  give  a 
few  more  skirmishes.  Warmed  with  "  the  Welsh 
fire,"  one  week  after  he  was  married,  leaving  his 
wife  behind,  he  passed  over  into  England,  and 
preached  in  Bristol  with  great  power  for  several 
successive  days.  Here  he  electrified  the  people 
and  greatly  revived  the  churches.  He  was  now 
so  much  renewed  in  strength  that  he  says,  "  I 
think  my  soul  is  more  intimately  united  to  Jesus  Christ  than 
ever."  For  "  I  think  I  can  say  He  brings  me  nearer  and  nearer 
to  Himself  daily."  "  Sometimes  I  have  scarce  known  whether 
I  have  been  in  the  body  or  out  of  it."  By  the  time  he  reached 
London,  "  he  felt  God's  power  more  than  ever,"  anc).  prayed,  "0 
that  His  whole  mind  zvas  in  me." 

Mr.  Whitefield  now  had  frequent  correspondence  with  the 
English  and  Scotch  nobility.  Not  being  afraid  nor  ashamed  to 
speak  to  them  about  religion,  he  often  tenderly  exhorted  them 
to  self-examination,  watchfulness  and  prayer,  and  prayed  earn- 
estly for  their  salvation.  To  the  Earl  of  Loudon,  he  said,  "  I 
wish  above  all  things,  that  your  soul  may  prosper.  Your 
lordship  has  now  entered  on  the  field  of  battle.  Go  on — 
though  faint,  still  pursue,  despairing  nothing." 

He  reached  London  early  in  December,  and  was  glad  to 
find  the  Societies  progressing  so  well.     "  Here  the  work  of 

(215) 


2l6  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

God  advances  greatly."  After  transacting  his  business  in 
London  he  went  over  to  Gloucester,  and  preached  twice  a  day 
for  several  days  with  great  success.  About  Christmas  he 
returned  to  Abergavenny  and  found  Mrs.  Whitefield  "quite 
well."  Having  arranged  to  move  her  to  London,  he  returned 
to  Bristol,  where  he  preached  twice  a  day  for  some  four  weeks 
with  great  power.  Here  he  says,  "  God  attends  me  with  His 
mighty  power,"  and  "the  churches  grow  and  increase  daily.' 
With  his  pen  dipped  in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  his  letters  now  glow 
with  love  and  fire.  Exclaiming,  "  O,  that  I  was  a  flame  of 
fire!"  he  says,  "  While  I  am  writing,  the  fire  kindles.  Last 
night  Jesus  rode  on  triumphantly.  It  is  sweet  to  abide  in  His 
wounds.  I  long  to  leap  my  70  years,  and  see  time  swallowed 
up  in  eternity."  "  O,  the  fulness  that  is  in  Christ.  It  fills  my 
heart.  Why  should  we  be  dwarfs  in  holiness?  Our  peace  and 
joy  should  always  flow  like  a  river.  Sometimes  my  heart  is 
so  full  that  I  am  tempted  to  think  my  joy  complete.  I  know 
not  what  others  may  say,  but  through  grace  I  can  sing  with 
Bishop  Ken, 

" '  To  my  soul  it's  hell  to  be 

But  for  a  moment  void  of  Thee.'  " 

Having  "settled  his  affairs  at  Bristol,"  administered  the 
sacrament,  and  enjoyed  a  sweet  love  feast  at  Kings  wood,  after 
preaching  "with  wondrous  power"  to  many  thousands  at 
Stroud,  he  returned  again  to  Gloucester.  Here  and  in  the 
vicinity,  with  increased  congregations,  he  preached  twice  a 
day,  with  unspeakable  power,  for  several  successive  days. 
"  Every  sermon  was  blessed."  And  "  there  was  such  an  awak- 
ening as  he  had  never  heard  of  in  that  region  before."  "  In 
Scotland,  too,"  he  says,  "  there  is  also  a  very  great  awakening, 
as  well  as  in  London.     The  work  in  Scotland  is  rather  greater 


WHLTEFIELD's    pitched    battle   with    SATAN.  21/ 

than  that  in  New  England."  "  God  has  brought  order  out  of 
confusion,  and  caused  our  divisions  to  work  for  good."  "  In 
England,  Wales  and  Scotland,  God  has  blessed  my  poor  labors 
more  than  ever  before.  O,  the  blessed  effects  of  field 
preaching!"  "  O,  free  grace  !  It  fires  my  soul,  and  makes  me 
long  to  do  something  more  for  Jesus."  "  So  many  places 
want  supplies,  I  could  wish  I  had  a  thousand  lives  and  a  thou- 
sand tongues.     Jesus  should  have  them  all." 

Owing  to  some  dissatisfaction  about  some  things  published 
in  his  Journals,  Mr.  Whitefield  now,  February  5,  1742,  discon- 
tinued them  in  their  usual  form,  and  promised  to  continue  them 
"  in  a  more  compendious  way." 

In  writing  to  an  English  lord  whom  he  had  won  to  the 
Saviour,  upon  hearing  of  his  conversion,  Whitefield  was  so 
glad  that  he  exclaimed,  "  Sing,  O  heavens  !  Rejoice,  O  earth  ! 
I  would  join  with  angels  and  archangels  in  singing,  '  Glory  to 
God  on  high.'  Welcome,  my  dear  brother,  into  the  world  of 
new  creatures."  To  another  "  right  honorable  lady"  he  said, 
with  great  joy  and  familiarity,  "  O  madam,  what  a  Comforter  is 
the  Holy  Ghost.  What  sweet  company  is  Jesus  Christ.  What 
a  privilege  it  is  to  have  fellowship  with  the  great  Three-One. 
Everything  yields  comfort  when  the  blessed  Spirit  breathes 
upon  it.  Even  this  scribble  from  the  chief  of  sinners  shall 
again  refresh  your  soul,  if  Jesus  speaks  the  word.  .  O,  that  He 
may  set  the  world  in  a  flame  of  love !  Methinks  I  see  your 
ladyship  sitting  in  your  chair,  and  ravished  with  the  Redeem- 
er's beauty  day  by  day.  Sometimes  you  are,  as  it  were,  wash- 
ing His  feet  with  your  tears;  at  other  times  sitting  by  faith 
at  His  feet,  hearing  or  reading  His  word.  Sometimes  \our 
heart  is  too  big  to  speak  ;  then,  again,  out  of  the  abundance  of 
the  heart,  your  mouth  poureth  forth  hallelujahs.  This,  I  trust, 
is  the  life  your  ladyship  lives.     This  is  life  indeed." 


2l8  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

After  a  fruitful  skirmish  at  Gloucester,  with  "  an  enlarged 
heart,"  he  returned  to  London  again  about  the  25th  of  Febru- 
ary. Here  he  met  with  the  Wesleys  and  had  frequent  friendly 
intercourse  with  them,  with  encouraging  prospects  of  a  com- 
plete re-union.  Says  Dr.  Gillies,  "  Whitefield  now  went  on 
with  greater  zeal  and  success,  if  possible,  than  ever."  Resum- 
ing preaching  twice  a  day  in  the  Tabernacle,  by  the  fourth  of 
March,  he  says,  "  Life  and  power  fly  all  aj-ojind,  and  the  Re- 
deemer is  getting  Himself  the  victoiy  daily  in  many  hearts." 
"Letters  from,  abroad  give  me  glorious  accounts.  In  New 
England  the  work  goes  on  amazingly.  In  Scotland  the  awak- 
ening is  greater  and  greater.  The  Spirit  of  God  has  been  striv- 
ing among  the  little  orphans  in  Georgia.  I  hear  that  twelve 
negroes,  belonging  to  a  planter,  converted  at  the  Orphan  House, 
are  savingly  brought  home  to  Jesus."  "At  home  and  abroad, 
Jesus  Christ  rides  on  victoriously.  Every  day  we  see  His 
stately  steps."  And  going  on  with  his  mighty  conquests,  on 
April  2 2d  he  says,  "  We  had  a  glorious  Pentecost''  at  Lon- 
don. "I  have  been  preaching  at  Moorfields,  and  our  Saviour 
carries  all  before  us.  Every  day  we  hear  of  fresh  converts. 
We  see  greater  things  than  ever  at  London.  The  awakening 
is  quite  fresh."  And  in  New  England,  he  says,  "the  Lord  takes 
poor  sinners  by  hundreds,  and  I  may  say  by  thousands."  Yet 
"  I  hope  at  my  return  to  Scotland,  to  see  greater  things  than 
ever."  Being  "  constantly  employed  from  morning  till  mid- 
night," he  says,  "  I  sleep  and  eat  but  little — yet  I  am  not  weary. 
My  strength  is  daily  renewed." 

THE    PITCHED    BATTLE. 

Rising  in  the  majesty  of  his  strength,  with  a  soul  flaming 
with  fire  and  a  heart  bleeding  with  compassion  for  the  poor 
Whitefield  now  went  forth  to  fight  the  devil  in  a  pitched  battle. 


WHITEFIELD'S    pitched    battle   with    SATAN.  219 

The  place  he  chose  for  the  mighty  conflict  was  Moorfields,  at 
the  time  of  the  great  annual  hohday  of  Whitsuntide.  Here 
"  for  many  years  past,  from  one  end  to  the  other,  booths  of  all 
kinds  have  been  erected  for  mountebanks,  players,  puppet 
shows  and  such  like,  where  Satan's  children  keep  up  their  an- 
nual rendezvous."  At  6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  accompanied 
by  a  large  congregation  of  praying  people,  "  he  ventured  to 
lift  up  a  standard  amongst  them  in  the  name  of  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth."-  Daring  all  hazards,  with  about  ten  thousand  of  them 
waiting  for  their  wild  sport,  he  says,  "  I  mounted  my  field  pul- 
pit, and  almost  all  immediately  flocked  around  it.  Glad  was  I 
to  find,  that  I  had  for  once,  as  it  were,  got  the  start  of  the  devil." 
He  preached  on  the  brazen  serpent,  John  iii.  14.  "They  gazed, 
they  listened,  they  wept ;  and  I  believe  that  many  felt  them- 
selves stung  with  deep  conviction  for  their  sins.  Being  thus 
encouraged,  I  ventured  out  again  at  noon ;  but  what  a  scene  ! 
The  fields,  the  whole  fields  seemed,  in  a  bad  sense  of  the  word, 
all  white,  ready,  not  for  the  Redeemer's,  but  for  Beelzebub's 
harvest.  All  his  agents  were  in  full  motion,  drummers,  trum- 
peters, merry-andrews,  masters  of  puppet-shows,  exhibitors  of 
wild  beasts,  players,  etc.,  etc.,  all  busy  in  entertaining  their  re- 
spective auditories.  I  suppose  there  could  not  be  less  than 
twenty  or  thirty  thousand  people.  My  pulpit  was  fixed  on  the 
opposite  side,  and  immediately,  to  their  great  mortification, 
they  found  the  number  of  their  attendants  sadly  lessened. 
Judging  that  like  Saint  Paul  I  should  now  be  called  to  fight 
with  beasts  at  Ephesus,  I  preached  from  these  words  :  '  Great 
is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians.'  You  might  easily  guess,  that  there 
was  some  noise  among  the  craftsmen,  and  that  I  was  honored 
with  having  a  few  stones,  dirt,  rotten  eggs,  and  pieces  of  dead 
cats  thrown  at  me,  while  engaged  in  calling  them  from  their 
favorite  but  lying  vanities.     My  soul  was  indeed  among  lions 


220  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

but  far  the  greatest  part  of  my  congregation,  which  was  very 
large,  seemed  for  a  while  to  be  turned  into  lambs.     This  en- 
couraged  me  to  give  notice  that  I  would  preach  again  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  evening.     I  came,  I  saw,  but  what — thousands 
and  thousands  more  than  before,  still  more  deeply  engaged  in 
their  unhappy  diversions ;    but  some  thousands  amongst  them 
waiting  as  anxiously  to  hear  the  gospel.     This  Satan  could  not 
brook.     One  of  his  choicest  servants  was  exhibiting  trumpet- 
ing on  a  large  stage ;  but  as  soon  as  the  people  saw  me  in  my 
black  robes  and  in  my  pulpit,  I  think  all,  to  a  man,  left  him  and 
followed  me.     For  a  while  I  was  enabled  to  lift  up  my  voice 
like  a  trumpet,  and  many  heard  the  joyful  sound.      God's  peo- 
ple kept  praying,  and  the  enemy's  agents  made  a  kind  of  roar- 
ing at  some  distance  from  our  camp.      At  length  they  ap- 
proached  nearer,  and  the   merry-andrew  (attended  by  others, 
who  complained  that  they  had  taken  many  pounds  less  that  day 
on  account  of  my  preaching),  got  upon  a  man's  shoulders,  and 
advancing  near  the  pulpit  attempted  to  thrash  me  with  a  long 
heavy  whip  several  times,  but  always  with  the  violence   of  his 
motion  tumbled  down.     Soon  after  they  got  a  recruiting  ser- 
geant with  his  drum,  etc.,  to  pass  through  the  congregation.    *I 
gave  the  word  of  command,  and  ordered  that  way  might  be 
made    for   the    king's    officer.     The    ranks    opened,  while    all 
marched    quietly  through,  and  then   closed    again.      Finding 
those  efforts  to  fail,  a  large  body,  quite  on  the  opposite  side, 
assembled  together,  and  having  got  a  large  pole  for  their  stand- 
ard, advanced  toward  me  with  steady  and  formidable  steps,  till 
they  came  very  near  the  skirts  of  .our  praying  and  almost  un- 
daunted congregation.     I  saw,  gave  warning,  and  prayed  to  the 
Captain  of  our  salvation   for  present  support  and   deliverance 
He  heard  and  answered ;   for  just  as  they  approached   us  with 
looks  full  of  resentment,  I  know  not  by  what  accident,  the> 


WHITEFIELD's    pitched    battle    with    SATAN.  221 

quarrelled  among  themselves,  threw  down  their  staff  and  went 
their  way,  leaving,  however,  many  of  their  company  behind, 
who  before  we  had  done,  I  trust  were  brought  over  to  join  the 
besieged  party.  I  think  I  continued  in  praying,  preaching  and 
singing  (for  the  noise  was  too  great  at  times  to  preach),  about 
three  hours.  We  then  retired  to  the  tabernacle,  with  my  pockets 
full  of  notes  from  persons  brought  under  concern,  and  read  them 
amidst  the  praise  and  spiritual  acclamations  of  thou.sands,  who 
joined  with  the  holy  angels  in  rejoicing  that  so  many  sinners 
were  snatched  in  such  an  unexpected  way  out  of  the  very  jaws 
of  the  devil.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Tabernacle  Soci- 
ety. Three  hundred  and  fifty  awakened  souls  were  received  in 
one  day,  and  I  believe  the  number  of  notes  exceeded  a  thou- 
sand." 

Well  done,  Whitefield  !  Gloiy  to  God  !  Thou  hast  fought  a 
good  fight,  and  won  a  glorious  victory.  In  oratory  thou  hast 
eclipsed  the  world,  and  completely  out-generaled  the  devil. 
How  grand  the  achievement!  (The  shouts  of  joy  in  heaven 
over  it,  methinks,  have  scarcely  yet  died  away.)  When  we 
look  at  the  grand  results,  the  splendid  manoeuvering,  the  mas- 
terly eloquence,  and  the  mighty  genius  exhibited  in  achieving 
it,  well  may  John  Angel  James  safely  pronounce  it  "  the  greatest 
achievement  in  elocution  the  world  presents,  next  to  Peter's 
sermon  over  the  murderers  of  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost." What  daring  courage  in  Whitefield  to  erect  his  pulpit 
and  preach  a  sermon  amidst  all  the  excitement  and  tumult  of  a 
rowdy  London  fair !  What  magic  power  must  he  have  pos- 
sessed to  win  and  hold  the  attention,  for  hours,  of  such  a  vast, 
turbulent  crowd,  amidst  such  alluring  scenes  and  enticing 
temptations  !  And  O,  with  what  wonderful  power  and  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit  he  must  have  preached,  when  under  such 
most  unfavorable  circumstances,  about  350  souls  were  hopefully 


222  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

converted  to  God,  and  looo  brought  under  deep  conviction 
under  one  sermon ! 

When  Demosthenes,  by  his  powerful  eloquence,  so  deeply 
fired  the  hearts,  and  stirred  the  souls'  indignation  of  the  Athen- 
ians that  they  cried,  "  Let  us  fight  Philip ;"  he  had  all  the 
advantages  situation  and  historic  association  could  afford.  But 
Whitefield  had  none  of  these.  Laboring  under  all  the  disad- 
vantages the  most  unfavorable  time,  place  and  condition  of  the 
people  could  produce,  he  had  everything  to  oppose  and  over- 
come. When  Peter  won  3000  souls  to  God  by  his  great  ser- 
mon on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  he  had  the  supernatural  aid  of  a 
stupendous  miracle,  the  gift  of  tongues  and  the  miraculous 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  help  him.  He  had  also  t\\Q  fresh 
attractions  of  the  Cross  of  Christ.  There,  hard  by,  was  the 
bloody  scene  of  Calvary  still  warm  and  smoking  with  the  inno- 
cent blood  of  Jesus,  to  stir  his  soul  and  melt  the  hearts  of  his 
murderous  congregation.  But  Whitefield  in  Moorfields  had 
no  such  stirring  sights  nor  supernatural  helps. 

Instead  of  receiving  a  miraculous  outpouring  of  God's 
spirit,  he  received  showers  of  stones,  dirt,  rotten  eggs,  and 
pieces  of  dead  cats,  and  three  furious  assaults  to  drive  him  from 
the  pulpit.  To  what,  then,  instrumentally,  shall  we  attribute 
his  great  success  ?  John  Angel  James  says,  "  to  the  power  of 
his  wonderful  oratory."  Besides  this  there  was  much  earnest 
prayer.  Whitefield  went  out  with  "  a  large  congregation  of 
praying  people,  and  they  kepi  praying."  He  says  "we  were  <r^£'- 
termined  to  pray  down  the  booths!'  And  when  the  battle  waxed 
hottest,  they  prayed  hardest,  and  God  "  heard  and  answered." 

Changing  his  base,  Whitefield  renewed  the  attack  the  next 
day,  and  followed  up  the  victory.  With  a  vast  congregation 
.assembled,  urged  by  an  honest  Quaker,  he  ventured  to  preach 
the   next  day  at   Marylebone  fields,   a   place  very  similar   to 


WHITEFIELDS    PITCHED    BATTLE   WITH    SATAN.  223 

Moorfields.  Soon  as  he  entered  the  congregation,  he  saw  an 
enemy  in  the  camp.  And  the  pulpit  being  very  high  and 
shackley,  he  says,  ''I  preached  in  great  jeopardy','  for  it  tottered 
every  time  he  moved.  The  enemy  tried  to  throw  him  down. 
But  with  his  unyielding  perseverance,  he  preached  on  with  great 
power.  In  returning  he  says,  "/  narrowly  escaped  with  my  life\ 
for  as  I  was  passing  from  the  pulpit  to  the  coach,  I  felt  my  wig 
and  hat  to  be  almost  off  I  turned  about,  and  observed  a  sword 
just  touching  my  temple.  A  young  rake,  as  I  afterwards 
found,  was  determined  to  stab  me ;  but  a  gentleman  struck  it  up 
with  his  cane."  "The  next  day,  I  renewed  my  attack  in  Moor- 
fields ;  but  after  they  found  that  noise  and  pelting  would  not 
do,  one  of  the  merry-andrews  got  up  into  a  tree  very  near  the 
pulpit,  and  shamefully  exposed  his  nakedness  before  all  the 
people.  Such  a  beastly  action  quite  abashed  the  serious  part 
of  my  congregation,  while  hundreds  expressed  their  approba- 
tion by  repeated  laughs.  I  must  own  that  it  gave  me  a  shock; 
I  thought  Satan  had  now  almost  out-done  himself:  but  recover- 
ing my  spirits,  I  appealed  to  all,  whether  I  had  wronged  human 
nature  in  saying,  after  Bishop  Hall,  '  that  man,  when  left  to 
himself,  is  half  a  devil  and  half  a  beast.'"  He  closed  with  a 
warm  exhortation,  and  in  reading  the  notes  of  the  convicted 
handed  in  at  the  Tabernacle,  with  great  rejoicing  over  what  God 
had  done  in  preserving  his  life  and  in  saving  their  souls. 


CHAPTER     XXII 


HIS    SECOND    VISIT   TO    SCOTLAND. 

LUSHED  with  the  great  victory  of  Moorfields, 
^1  the  great  Evangehst  now  returns  to  Scotland. 
(^  Although  he  had  wrought  wonders  in  England, 
|rf^  yet  with  his  sublime  faith  he  says,  "  I  expect  to 
G)  see  far  greater  things  in  Scotland."  Accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  on  May  26th  he  sailed  on 
board  the  "  Mary  Ann"  for  Edinburgh,  and 
reached  there  June  3,  1742.  "  On  board,"  he 
says,  "  I  spent  most  of  my  time  in  secret  prayer.  Satan  shot 
many  of  his  fiery  darts  against  me,  but  with  the  shield  of  faith 
I  was  enabled  to  repel  them  all.  As  soon  as  I  came  on  board 
the  Holy  Spirit  filled  my  soul."  Landing  at  Leith,  he  was 
received  with  great  joy.  And  when  he  came  to  Edinburgh,  he 
says,  "  It  would  have  melted  you  down  to  have  seen  them 
weep  for  joy.  Some  were  ready  to  faint  with  excessive  joy." 
Encouraged  with  the  good  news,  he  says.  "The  work  of  God 
is  beyond  expression.  Three  little  boys,  converted  when  I 
was  here  last,  came  to  me  and  wept,  and  begged  me  to  pray 
for  and  with  them.  A  minister  tells  me  tka^  scarce  one  is  fallen 
hack  who  was  awakened,  either  among  old  or  young." 

Early  in  July,  Mr.  Whitefield  returned  from  a  preaching 
tour  in  the  west  of  Scotland,  where  he  preached  repeatedly  at 
Paisley,  Irvine,  Mearns,  Cambernauld  and  Falkirk.  "In 
every    place,"   he  says,   "  there    was    the    greatest   commotion 

(224) 


HIS    SECOND    VISIT    TO    SCOTLANI>.  225 

among  the  people  that  was  ever  known.  Their  mourning  was 
like  the  mourning  for  a  first-born,"  "  Here  I  have  seen  and 
felt  such  things  as  I  never  felt  before.  Never  was  I  enabled 
to  preach  so  powerfully  before.  The  awakening  here  is  un- 
speakable." The  congregations  were  just  like  those  he  had 
at  Fogg's  Manor,  in  Pennsylvania.  Sinners  were  awakened 
by  scores  together.  He  now  prayed  so  much  that  he  says,  "  It 
is  not  for  me  to  tell  how  often  I  use  secret  prayer;  if  I  did  not 
use  it — nay,  if  in  one  sense  I  did  not  pray  without  ceasing — it 
would  be  difficult  for  me  to  keep  up  that  frame  of  soul  which 
through  grace  I  daily  enjoy."  Honored  so  much,  he  seemed 
to  fear  pride  and  ingratitude ;  hence  his  oft-repeated  prayer, 
"  O  that  I  may  lie  low  at  the  feet  of  Jesus." 

WHITEFIELD    AT    CAMBUSLANG. 

But  these  mighty  outpourings  and  great  rejoicings  in  the 
West  were  but  d^  foretaste  of  what  they  enjoyed  at  Cambuslang. 
He  preached  at  Glasgow  July  7,  came  to  Cambuslang 
the  next  day,  and  preached  at  two  o'clock  P.  m.,  to  a  vast 
congregation ;  again  at  six,  and  again  at  nine  at  night.  And 
"  such  a  commotion,"  he  says,  "  surely  was  never  heard  of" 
"  It  far  outdid  all  that  ever  I  saw  in  America.  For  about  an 
hour  and  a  half  there  was  such  weeping,  so  many  falling  into 
deep  distress  and  expressing  it  in  various  ways,  as  is  inexpress- 
ible. The  people  seem  to  be  slain  by  scores.  They  are 
carried  off  into  the  house  like  wounded  soldiers  from  a  field  ot 
battle."  Some  sung  and  prayed  all  night.  On  Friday,  the 
15th,  he  says,  "  I  came  to  Cambuslang  to  assist  at  the  com- 
munion. On  Saturday  I  preached  to  above  20,000  people.  In 
my  prayer  the  power  of  God  came  down,  and  was  greatly  felt." 
It  was  felt  more  during  his  two  sermons.  "On  Sabbath  day 
scarce  ever  was  such  a  sight  seen  in  Scotland.  There  were 
15 


226  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD, 

undoubtedly  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  people."  "  The 
sacrament  was  administered  in  the  fields.  When  I  began  to 
serve  a  table,  the  power  of  God  was  felt  by  numbers ;  but  the 
people  crowded  so  upon  me  that  I  was  obliged  to  desist,  and  go 
and  preach  in  one  of  the  tents."  After  the  communion  was  over, 
he  preached  about  an  hour  and  a  half  to  the  whole  congre- 
gation, with  great  power.  "On  Monday  morning,"  he  says, 
"  I  preached  again  to  near  as  many;  but  such  an  universal  stir 
I  never  saw  before.  The  motion  fled  as  swift  as  lightning  from 
one  end  of  the  auditory  to  the  other.  You  might  have  seen 
thousands  bathed  in  tears;  some  at  the  same  time  wringing 
their  hands;  others  almost  swooning,  and  others  crying  out 
and  mourning  over  a  pierced  Saviour."  The  people  sat 
unwearied  till  two  in  the  morning  to  hear  sermons,  disre- 
garding the  weather.  "You  scarce  could  walk  a  yard  but  you 
must  tread  upon  some,  either  rejoicing  in  God  for  mercies 
received,  or  ciying  out  for  more.  Thousands  and  thousands 
have  I  seen,  before  it  was  possible  to  catch  it  by  sympathy, 
melted  down  under  the  word  and  power  of  God."  When  we 
remember  that  all  this  took  place  on  a  cold  night  in  February, 
on  a  hillside,  in  the  open  air,  it  appears  still  more  interesting. 
"  But  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  it.  Much  prayer  had  been 
previously  put  up  to  the  Lord."  In  companies  they  sung  and 
prayed  all  night.  With  all  these  herculean  labors,  he  says, 
"  I  am  exceedingly  strengthened,  both  in  soul  and  body,  and 
cannot  now  do  well  without  preaching  three  times  a  day."  He 
was  very  .happy  in  London,  but  "he  was  ten  times  happier 
now."  Though  "Satan  roars,"  yet  "I  am  blessed  with  far 
greater  success  than  ever."  "  His  comforts  and  success  were 
now  unspeakable."  And,  going  on  with  his  religious  experi- 
ence, he  says,  "  It  is  a  very  uncommon  thing  to  be  rooted  and 
grounded  in  the  love  of  Jesus.     I  find  persons  may  have  the 


HIS    SECOND    VISIT    TO    SCOTLAND.  22/ 

idea,  but  are  far  from  having  the  real  substance."  Hence  he 
exhorts,  "  Keep  close  to  Jesus!' 

While  this  glorious  work  was  going  on  at  Cambuslang  and 
other  places,  the  Associate  Presbytery  appointed  a  public  fast, 
to  humble  themselves  because  Whitcfield  had  been  received  in 
Scotland,  and  because  of  "  the  delusion^'  as  they  called  it,  at 
Cambuslang.  They  issued  an  act,  proclaiming  a  fast,  which 
Rev.  Mr.  Robe  says,  "  is  the  most  lieaven-daring  paper  that  has 
been  published  in  Britain  for  three  hundred  years."  "  And  all 
this,"  says  Whitefield,  "because  I  would  not  consent  to  preach 
only  for  them."  Or  in  other  words,  he  says,  "  they  kept  a  fast 
throughout  all  Scotland,  to  humble  themselves,  because  the 
devil  was  come  down  in  great  wrath  ;  and  to  pray  that  the 
Lord  would  rebuke  the  destroyer — for  that  was  my  title."  "  O, 
how  prejudice  will  blind  the  eyes,  even  of  good  men.  Father, 
forgive  them  1  "  Although  they  called  this  good  work  ''a  delu- 
sion," and  "the  work  of  the  devil,"  yet  God  carried  it  on  to  the 
salvation  of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  souls.  In  revivals  we 
should  never  let  opposition  discourage  or  hinder.  Rejoicing 
over  the  good  work,  and  lamenting  their  folly,  Whitefield  ex- 
claims, "  O,  free  grace  !  I  am  persuaded  I  shall  have  more  power 

since  dear  Mr.  G hath  printed  such  a  bitter  pamphlet.     Now 

I  begin  to  be  a  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  rejoice  and  am  ex- 
ceeding glad.  The  archers  shot  sore  at  me,  that  I  might  fall ; 
but  the  Lord  is,  and  the  Lord  will  h^,  my  helper." 

Although  the  revival  at  Cambuslang  began  February,  1742, 
under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  McCullough,  accompanied  with 
"some  bodily  agencies,  outcryings  and  faintings  in  the  congre- 
gation," before  Mr.  Whitefield  went  there,  yet  says  a  distin- 
guished writer,  "  In  Edinburgh,  and  all  the  other  places  in 
Scotland, it  began  with  his  first  visit." 


228  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 


THE    SECOND    COMMUNION. 


Baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,  and  made 
"  ir.ore  than  conqueror,"  with  Jesus  "  carrying  all  before  him," 
Mr.  Whitefield  came  to  Cambuslang  about  the  middle  ot 
August,  to  assist  at  the  second  communion.  Encouraged  and 
wrought  up  by  the  Pentecostal  effusions  and  500  conversions 
at  the  other  communion,  after  much  prayer  and  preparation,  he 
expected  far  greater  at  this.  Blessed  beyond  description  at  the- 
first,  another  such  was  much  longed  for.  With  over  twenty 
worthy  ministers  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  big  with  expectation, 
they  met  at  the  time  appointed  (August  1 5 ),  and  says  Mr.  White- 
field,  "  Such  a  passover  has  never  been  heard  of"  (With  vast 
multitudes  of  people  they  had  four  sermons  on  the  fast  day, 
four  on  Saturday  and  five  on  Monday.)  "  The  voice  of  prayer 
and  praise  was  heard  all  night.  The  ministers  were  enlarged, 
and  great  grace  was  among  the  people.  Whitefield  served  five 
tables,  and  preached  four  times  with  wonderful  power — partic- 
ularly when  he  preached  about  ten  o'clock  on  Sabbath  night, 
and  Monday  morning,  when  there  was  a  very  great  concern, 
but  decent  weeping,  mourning  and  crying  out  in  the  vast  con- 
gregation." "On  Sabbath  evening,  while  he  was  serving  some 
tables,  he  appeared  to  be  so  filled  with  the  love  of  God  as  to 
be  in  a  kind  oi  ecstasy,  and  he  communicated  with  much  of  that 
blessed  frame."  Rev.  Dr.  Webster,  of  Edinburgh,  who  preached 
with  "  a  very  great  commotion "  on  Monday  morning  at  7 
o'clock,  says,  "  During  the  time  of  divine  worship,  solemn,  pro- 
found reverence  overspread  every  countenance.  They  heard 
as  for  eternity.  Thousands  are  melted  into  tears.  Many  cry 
out  in  the  bitterness  of  their  soul.  Some  of  both  sexes,  and 
all  ages,  from  the  stoutest  man  to  the  tenderest  child,  shake 
and  tremble,  and  a  few  fall  down  as  dead.  Nor  does  this  hap- 
pen only  when  men  of  warm  address  alarm  them  with  the  ter- 


HIS    SECOND    VISIT    TO    SCOTLAND.  229 

rors  of  the  law,  but  when  the  most  dcHberate  preacher  speaks 
of  redeeming  love.  Bring  them  to  Mount  Sinai,  where  the 
thunder  roars  and  lightnings  flash,  and  this  may  occasion 
greater  outcry  ;  but  lead  them  to  the  consolations  that  are  in 
Jesus,  and  then  vastly  greater  numbers  fall  under  the  most 
kindly  impressions.  Talk  of  a  precious  Saviour,  and  all  seem 
to  breathe  after  Him.  Open  the  wonders  of  His  grace,  and  the 
silent  tears  drop  from  almost  every  eye." 

This  communion,  for  the  gracious  presence  and  power  of 
God,  far  exceeded  the  other.  With  about  forty  thousand  people, 
three  thousand  communicants,  and  with  a  Pentecostal  effusion 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  numbers,  solemnity,  power  "and  glory, 
it  doubtless  excelled  all  other  communions  ever  held  on  earth. 
The  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  place.  Commencing^early  in 
the  morning,  with  three  tents  and  twenty-five  tables,  it  lasted 
till  sunset.  Constrained  by  the  Saviour's  love,  the  communi- 
cants rushed  to  commemorate  His  sufferings  and  death.  Moved 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  thousand  more  desired  to  commune, 
but  coulrf  not  get  tokens.  "Filled  with  all  joy  and  peace  in 
believing,"  some  cried  out,  "now  let  Thy  servants  depart  in 
peace,  since  our  eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation  here."  Eminent 
ministers  said  "they  had  never  seen  so  much  of  heaven  on 
earth."  In  summing  up  the  fruits  of  this  glorious  work,  Rev.  Dr. 
Hamilton,  of  Glasgow,  September,  1742,  says,  "I  doubt  not  that 
since  the  middle  of  February,  when  this  work  begun  at  Cam- 
buslang,  there  are^upwards  of  two  thousand  persons  awakened, 
and  almost  all  of  them  in  a  promising  condition."  Although 
Rev.  Mr.  Erskine  disparagingly  said  of  the  Cambuslang  revival, 
"  We  have  convulsiojis  instead  of  convictions,"  yet  there  were 
about  400  genuine  conversions,  says  Mr.  McCullough,  less  than 
one-sixth  of  whom  were  not  thrown  into  convulsions.  He 
received  over  a  hundred  in  his  own  church  that  season. 


230  •        LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

After  the  communion  was  over,  Mr.  Whitefield  preached 
repeatedly  at  Greenock,  Kilbride,  Stevenson,  Kilmarnock,  Stew- 
arton,  and  twice  more  at  Cambuslang,  with  unusual  power. 
He  says,  "  I  never  preached  with  so  much  apparent  success 
before.  God  hath  done  greater  things  for  me  than  I  am  able 
to  express."  "  At  Kilbride,  Kilmarnock,  and  Stewarton,  the 
concern  was  very  extraordinary." 

While  so  many  thousands  went  to  Cambuslang  to  worship 
God,  some  went  to  mock  and  deride.  Two  profane  young  men, 
who  went  for  sport,  were  both  sO  powerfully  convicted  the  same 
day,  that  they  were  glad  to  get  into  a  stable  hard  by,  to  beg 
that  God  they  had  despised  to  have  mercy  on  them".  Their 
subsequent  walk  evinced  their  conversion  and  piety.  But  com- 
paratively few  of  the  converts  were  thrown  into  tremblings  or 
bodily  distresses."  Cambuslang  is  four  miles  from  Glasgow. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  with  similar  results  at 
Kilsyth.      There  was  also  a  great  awakening  at  Muthel. 

Although  upon  coming  out  of  those  "sweet  communions"  at 
Cambuslang,  Mr.  Whitefield  felt  himself  to  be  "  a  hell-deserv- 
ing wretch,"  yet  with  his  strong  faith  and  expanded  soul,  "  he 
could  trample  sin,  death  and  hell  under  his  feet,"  and  cry,  "  O 
for  a  large  heart  to  receive  all  the  fulness  of  God." 

Living  and  walking  by  faith,  he  says,  "  I  have  for  these  eight 
or  nine  years  past,  had  no  visible  settled  fund,  but  fetched  in 
all  temporal  supplies  by  pleading  the  promises.  My  God  never 
failed  me.  He  never  will." 

Having  preached  one  day  with  much  liberty  on  Jacob's 
Ladder,  he  rose  so  high  that  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God, 
I  am  ascended  so  far  as  to  leave  the  world  almost  out  of  sight, 
and  I  see  my  dear  Master  standing  at  the  top  reaching  out  His 
hand  ready  to  receive  me  up  into  heaven." 

And  although  surrounded  with  "  storms  of  opposition  and 


HIS   SECOND    VISIT   TO    SCOTLAND.  23 1 

reproach,"  yet  guarded  by  Jehovah- Jesus,  he  could  say,  "  God 
is  on  my  side,  I  will  not  fear  what  men  nor  devils  can  say  or 
do  unto  me.  I  have  the  pleasure  often  to  go  without  the  camp, 
and  to  bear  a  little  of  Christ's  reproach,  and  I  prefer  it  to  all 
the  treasures  in  the  world."  Soaring  high  above  his  trials  and 
reproaches,  he  says,  "  I  think  I  am  like  the  ark,  surrounded  on  all 
sides  with  waves,  but  through  free,  rich  grace  am  enabled  to 
swim  triumphantly  above  all."  Crucified  to  the  world  and  con- 
secrated to  God,  and  pitying  the  narrow-hearted  bigotry  of  the 
Seceders,  with  a  burning  desire  to  promote  God's  kingdom 
"  without  partiality,"  he  rose  so  far  above  self  and  the  world, 
that  with  a  Christ-like  unselfishness  he  exclaimed,  "  I  care  not 
if  the  name  of  George  Whitefield  be  banished  out  of  the  world, 
so  that  Jesus  Christ  be  exalted  in  it." 

We  close  this  chapter  with  Whitefield's  prayer  for  Col.  Gard- 
ner— "  May  you  be  covered  with  all  of  Christ's  armors  and 
filled  with  all  1 1  is  fulness.  May  you  be  endued  with  the 
meekness  of  Moses,  the  courage  of  Joshua,  the  zeal  of  Paul, 
and  the  Spirit  of  Christ." 


CHAPTER     XXIII. 


HIS    OLD    BATTLE    FIELDS. 

OING  on  "from  conquering  to  conquer,"  with 
"  Jiis  sold  011  fire"  our  heroic  ambassador  now 
leaves  the  Pentecostal  scenes  of  Scotland  and 
returns  to  his  old  battle-fields  in  England. 
"  Strengthened  more  than  ever,"  staging  it 
from  Edinburgh,  he  reached  London  Novem- 
ber 6th,  1742,  full  of  joy  and  peace.  He 
says,  "  Jesus  solaced  my  soul  all  the  way." 
"  The  concern  expressed  at  my  departure  was  unspeakable." 
His  wife  went  by  sea.  With  ^^"300  raised  in  Scotland  for  his 
poor  orphans,  and  ^^"1500  in  all  since  his  return  from  America, 
he  rejoiced  and  thanked  God  that  the  Orphan-House  debt  was 
now  nearly  all  paid. 

Aroused  by  Whitefield's  success,  Satan  still  kept  up  the 
spirit  of  persecution  against  his  coadjutors.  Because  Mr.  Cor- 
mick  attended  little  religious  conferences  and  related  his 
religious  experience,  he  was  indicted  for  holding  a  conventicle, 
or  plotting  against  the  Church  and  State.  This  spirit  was 
carried  so  far  in  Wiltshire,  that  the  poor  were  threatened  with 
starvation  for  going  to  these  meetings.  When  the  officers 
threatened  some  to  withhold  their  pay,  with  a  heroic  spirit 
they  replied,  "  If  you  starve  11s  we  will  go ;  and,  rather  than 
forbear,  we  will  live  on  grass  like  cows."  Because  of  this 
many  threatened  to  leave  the  Established  Church,  but  White- 
field  persuaded  them  not  to  do  it. 

(232) 


HIS    OLD    BATTLE    FllILOS.  233 

Amidst  all  his  severe  trials  and  glorious  victories  in 
England  and  Scotland,  Mr.  Whitefield  never  forgot  his  dear 
friends  in  America  nor  his  dear  orphans  at  Bethesda.  To  a 
friend  at  Bethesda  he  says,  "God  only  knows  how  I  s)'mpa- 
thize  with  \-ou  and  my  dear  famil)-.  I  think  I  could  be  sold  a 
slave,  to  serve  at  the  galleys,  rather  than  )-ou  and  my  dear 
orphans  should  want."  "I  will  come  over,  God  willing,  the 
very  first  opportunity.  God,  and  not  my  own  will,  has  kept 
me  on  this  side  the  water  so  long." 

In  writing  to  a  young  theological  student,  he  said,  "Two 
things  I  would  earnestly  recommend  to  your  constant  study — 
'The  Book  of  God'  and  'your  own  heart.'  These  two  well 
understood  will  make  you  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment." Late  in  December  we  find  him  "in  winter  quarters"  at 
London,  "  preparing  for  a  fresh  campaign."  And,  desiring  ''to 
rise  higher,"  he  prays  "/^  lie  lower."  Big  with  expectation,  he 
says,  "  I  hear  of  glorious  things  from  various  parts.  I  hope 
ere  long  we  shall  hear  of  persons  going  from  post  to  post,  and 
crying,  "  Babylon  is  fallen,  Babylon  is  fallen." 

To  another  friend  he  writes,  "  I  think  I  may  say  to  you,  as 
Luther  said  to  Melanchthon,  '  Nimis  es  ullus.  You  are  kept  in 
bondage  by  a  false  humility.'  "  "  It  is  good  to  see  ourselves 
poor  and  vile,  but  if  that  sight  prevents  our  working  for  Jesus, 
it  becomes  criminal."  "  How  often  have  I  been  kept  from 
speaking  and  acting  for  God  by  a  sight  of  my  own  unworthi- 
ness  ;  but  now  I  see  that  the  more  unworthy  I  am,  the  more 
fit  to  work  for  Jesus."  "  Nothing  sets  a  person  so  much  out  of 
the  devil's  reach  as  humility."  "The  most  humbled  make  the 
most  solid  and  useful  Christians.  It  stands  to  reason,  the  more 
a  man  is  emptied  of  himself,  the  more  room  is  there  made  for 
the  Spirit  of  God  to  dwell  in  him.  Humility  must  be  taught 
us,  as   Gideon  taught  the  men  of  Succoth — with  briars  and 


234  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

thorns.  These  will  frequently  fetch  blood  from  the  old  man. 
O,  that  we  may  be  made  willing  to  have  him  bleed  to  death  ! 
Away  with  him  !  Away  with  him  !  Crucify  him  !  Crucify 
him  !" 

Leaving  his  winter  quarters  late  in  March,  1743,  he  re- 
turned to.  Gloucester,  where  he  was  received  with  much  warmth, 
and  preached  with  great  power.  Here  he  conversed  with  the 
anxious  till  after  one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Rising  at  five 
the  next  day,  "  sick  for  want  of  rest,"  he  rode  on  horse  several 
miles  and  preached  again  at  seven.  At  ten  he  preached  and 
administered  the  Sacrament  at  Stonehouse  church.  He 
preached  at  noon  on  the  hill;  again  at  four  to  about  12,000  at 
Stroud  ;  and  again  at  six  to  about  the  same  number  at  Hamp- 
ton Common — closing  the  big  day's  work  with  a  general  love 
feast  at  Hampton,  where  he  says,  "  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled 
the  house."  He  returned  home  about  twelve  very  cheerful 
and  happy.  On  Tuesday  he  preached  to  about  12,000  at  a 
public  execution  at  Hampton,  where  "a  man  was  hung  in 
chains."  •  The  interest  was  now  so  great  and  the  congregations 
so  large,  that  he  said,  "  Preaching  in  Gloucester  was  like  preach- 
ing in  the  Tabernacle  in  London."  At  Stanley  he  rose  so  high, 
he  seemed  to  get  "  in  the  veiy  suburbs  of  heaven."  Filled 
with  the  Spirit,  after  preaching  with  wonderful  power  at  Bristol 
and  Dursley,  early  in  April,  he  went  to  Waterford,  in  Wales, 
where  he  presided  over  \}ix&  first  association  of  Calvinistic  Meth- 
odists. He  opened  the  Association  with  a  close,  solemn  dis- 
course on  "  Walking  zvith  God.''  They  were  so  earnest  in  their 
work  that  sometimes  they  continued  their  sessions  till  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  described  it  as  "  a  very  precious, 
important  meeting."  Several  matters  of  great  importance  were 
dispatched. 

Leaving  Waterford,  he  went  and  preached  at  Cardiff  with 


HIS    OLD    BATTLE    FIELDS.  235 

such  great  power,  that  "  the  greatest  scoffers  sat  quiet."  And 
at  Swarzy  the  effect  was  so  great  that  he  reports,  ''Sivarzy  is 
taken.  I  never  preached  with  more  convincing  power.  Many 
of  the  rich  and  great  were  present."  Going  on  with  his  gra- 
cious triumphs,  after  preaching  at  Carmarthen  and  many  other 
places,  April  17th  he  says,  "This  morning  I  preached  at  Llas- 
sivran,  and  had,  as  it  were,  a  Moorfields  congregation.  A  most 
effectual  door  is  now  opened  in  South  Wales."  After  preach- 
ing again  to  about  8000  people  at  Carmarthen,  on  returning 
from  Lorn  in  a  ferry,  he  was  honored  with  a  salute — one  ship 
fired  several  guns  and  others  hoisted  their  flags.  Having 
preached  again  to  about  10,000  at  Carmarthen  on  the  22d,  he 
says,  "  we  had  another  blessed  association  ;  and  have  now  estab- 
lished preaching  in  all  the  counties  in  Wales."  One  of  the 
Carmarthen  ministers  preached  much  against  Mr.  Whitefield 
personally,  but  like  his  other  opposers,  he  says,  "  like  the  viper 
biting  the  file,  he  only  injured  himself"  Having  traveled 
about  400  miles  in  three  weeks  and  preached  about  40  sermons, 
in  Wales,  with  the  people  much  refreshed  and  revived,  he  says, 
"  Dagon  has  everywhere  fallen  before  the  ark,  and  the  fields  are 
white,  ready  unto  harvest.  The  congregations  were  very  large, 
and  I  was  never  enabled  to  preach  with  greater  power." 

Early  in  May  he  returned  to  London  and  resumed  "  the 
Lord's  battles  in  Moorfields."  Here  he  says,  "  It  would  amaze 
you  to  see  the  great  congregations  and  wonderful  presence  of 
the  Lord.  I  have  been  enabled  to  mount  on  wings  like  an 
eagle.  Glory  be  to  God,  the  gospel  spreads.  We  dined  very 
comfortably  at  Bengeworth,  and  then  set  out  for  Gloucester, 
shouting,  Grace  !  grace !  When  I  arrived,  our  Saviour  was 
exceeding  precious ;  and  I  had  so  much  of  heaven  in  my  soul, 
that  I  wanted  to  lie  down  anywhere  to  praise  my  God." 


21^  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

WHITEFIELD    MOBBED. 

Hearing  of  the  severe  persecutions  at  Hampton,  early  in 
July,  he  went  over  there  "  to  strengthen  the  persecuted."  While 
he  was  holding  a  prayer-meeting  there,  a  furious  mob  of  near 
one  hundred  men  gathered  around  the  house,  yelling  "and 
swearing  prodigiously."  He  said,  "  If  they  wanted  his  life,  he 
was  willing  to  deliver  it  up  for  Jesus'  sake."  They  charged  him 
with  heresy  and  impoverishing  the  poor.  Neither  was  true. 
When  they  took  him  to  throw  him  into  a  lime-pit,  he  said  "  he 
was  willing  to  suffer,  though  unjustly,  for  Christ's  sake."  While 
they  were  pushing  him  along,  some  neighbors  took  and  carried 
him  into  one  of  their  houses.  Thus  he  escaped  out  of  their 
hands.  On  Sabbath  morning  about  twenty  of  these  brave  Chris- 
tians met  again  for  prayer.  After  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  to 
them  again  with  great  power.,  they  met  again  at  his  own  house. 
After  another  sermon  he  met  with  them  again  at  5,  in  his  own 
house,  where  he  exhorted  them  to  watch  and  pray,  "  and  if  the 
mob  came,  not  at  all  to  resist,  but  to  make  way  for  them  to  come 
to  him,  and  let  them  do  what  the  Lord  would  permit."  After 
they  sung  and  prayed,  the  mob  came,  and  says  he,  "  They 
swore  they  would  have  me.  Then,  said  I,  so  you  shall.  So  they 
took  me  to  the  lime-pit,  and  they  threw  me  in.  But,  O,  what  a 
power  of  God  fell  on  my  soul !  I  thought,  with  Stephen,  the 
heavens  opened  to  my  sight,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  was  ready,  if  I 
had  died,  to  receive  me.  I  believe  my  undaunted  courage 
shook  some  of  them.  I  told  them,  I  should  meet  them  at  the 
judgment:  then  they  turned  pale.  They  let  me  out,  and  I 
came  home,  kneeled  down,  thanked  and  praised  God.  At  the 
close  of  his  exhortation  on  i  John  iii.  i,  2,  3,  "in  came  the 
mob  again  and  took  me  to  a  brook  to  throw  me  in."  A  former 
persecutor  interfered.  Then  they  led  him  all  through  town. 
He  says,  "/  JiaA  a  sweet  walk,  and  talked  and  reasoned  with 


HIS    OLD    BATTLE    FIELDS.  237 

the  persecutors  all  the  way.  My  heart  was  full  of  love."  They 
threw  him  into  the  brook — he  went  to  the  bottom,  but 
soon  came  up  with  his  hands  clasped  together.  They  took  him 
out ;  but  one  malici(5usly  and  cowardly  pushed  him  in  again, 
and  cut  his  leg  against  a  stone.  He  talked  to  them.  "  God 
smote  their  consciences."  Many  seemed  to  repent.  He  did 
not  prosecute  them,  but  prayed,  "Father,  forgive  them.''  They 
were  determined  to  break  up  his  preaching  at  Hampton,  and  he 
was  determined  to  break  up  the  mob  by  kindness,  and  "by 
giving  himself  up  wholly  to  them  ;"  and  he  succeeded. 

As  he  returned  to  Hampton  about  two  weeks  after,  they 
blew  the  horns,  rang  the  bells  for  the  mob  to  assemble.  Keep- 
ing "his  soul  quite  easy,"  the  mob  broke  in  upon  them  just  as 
he  was  closing  his  sermon  in  the  lot.  He  then  went  into  the 
house  and  preached  again.  The  mob  came  to  mock  and  dis- 
turb. But,  says  he,  "As  you  know  I  have  very  little  natural 
coifrage,  strength  and  power  being  given  from  above,  I  leaped 
down  stairs,  and  all  ran  away  before  me."  They  threatened 
one  man's  life  and  seriously  injured  several  others.  Mr.  White- 
field  brought  suit  against  them  in  the  court  of  King's  Bench, 
and  "  a  solemn  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation  was  kept  because 
of  it."  Pleading  not  guilty,  they  were  tried  before  a  jury  at 
Gloucester,  and  all  found  guilty.  Then  Whitefield  retired  to 
his  lodgings,  kneeled  down  with  his  friends,  and  gave  God 
thanks. 

He  now  had  many  very  precious  meetings  in  the  west  of 
England,  especially  at  St.  Gennis,  where  "  the  arrows  of  con- 
viction flew  so  thick  and  fast  that  a  universal  weeping  prevailed 
throughout  the  congregation."  After  preaching  several  days 
to  vast  congregations  at  the  Bristol  Fair,  and  at  Southern-bay, 
he  returned  to  London  about  the  20th  of  August,  where  his 
only  son  was   born    October    5,    1743.      At    Birmingham    he 


238  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

preached  to  many  thousands  with  a  very  deep  effect,  and  was 
twice  struck  with  clods^' while  praying  at  Mare-Green. 

WHITEFIELD    ASSAULTED. 

During  his  first  night  at  Plymouth,  several  persons  broke 
into  his  room  at  the  hotel  and  disturbed  him  very  much.  "  I 
then,"  he  says,  "betook  myself  to  private  lodgings,  and  having 
gone  to  bed,  after  preaching  to  a  large  congregation,  the  land- 
lady came  and  told  me  that  a  well-dressed  gentleman  desired 
to  speak  with  me.  Imagining  that  it  was  some  Nicodemite,  I 
desired  he  might  be  brought  up.  He  came  and  sat  down  by 
my  bedside,  and  told  me  he  was  a  lieutenant  of  a  man-of-war, 
congratulated  me  on  the  success  of  my  ministry,  and  expressed 
himself  much  concerned  for  being  detained  from  hearing  me." 
After  changing  a  few  friendly  words,  "  he  immediately  rose  up, 
uttering  the  most  abusive  language,  calling  me  dog,  rogue, 
villain,  etc.,  and  beat  me  most  unmercifully  with  his  gold-headed 
cane. 

"  As  you  know  I  have  not  much  natural  courage,  you  can 
guess  how  surprised  I  was ;  being  apprehensive  that  he  intended 
to  shoot  or  stab  me,  I  underwent  all  the  fears  of  a  sudden, 
violent  death.  But,  as  it  providentially  happened,  my  hostess 
and  her  daughter,  hearing  me  cry  murder,  rushed  into  the  rooni 
and  seized  him  by  the  collar;  however,  he  immediately  disen- 
gaged .himself  from  them,  and  repeated  his  blows  upon  me." 
Alarmed  at  the  repeated  cry  of  "nmrder,"  he  rushed  to  the 
door,  and  the  good  woman  pushed  him  down  stairs.  A  second, 
at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  cried  out,  "Take  courage,  I  am 
ready  to  help  you,"  who,  while  the  other  was  escaping,  rushed 
up,  and  finding  one  of  the  women  coming  down,  took  her  by 
the  heels,  and  threw  her  upon  the  stairs,  and  almost  broke  her 


HIS    OLD    BATTLE    FIELDS,  2 39 

back.  The  neighborhood  was  now  alarmed,  but  unwilling  to 
add  to  the  alarm,  Mr.  Whitefield  shut  the  door  and  went  to 
bed.  Shortly  after  this,  he  received  an  invitation  from  a  young 
man,  who  said  he  had  supped  with  him  at  his  uncle's,  in  New 
York,  to  sup  with  him  and  a  few  other  friends  at  a  tavern. 
Mr.  Whitefield  declined,  but  invited  him,  for  his  uncle's  sake, 
to  come  and  eat  a  morsel  with  him  at  his  lodgings.  "  He  came ; 
we  supped :  and  I  observed  that  he  frequently  looked  around 
him,  and  seemed  very  absent :  but  having  no  suspicion,  I  con- 
tinued in  conversation  with  him  and  my  other  friends  till  we 
parted.  This,"  says  Whitefield,  "  I  now  find,  was  to  have 
been  the  assassin;  and  being  interrogated  by  his  other  com- 
panions, on  his  return  to  the  tavern,  about  what  he  had  done, 
he  answered,  that  bmig  used  so  civilly,  he  had  not  the  heart  to 
touch  me.  Upon  which,  as  I  am  informed,  the  person  who 
assaulted  me  laid  a  wager  of  ten  guineas  that  he  would  do  my 
business  for  me.  Some  say  they  took  his  sword  from  him, 
which  I  suppose  they  did,  for  I  only  saw  and  felt  the  weight  of 
his  cane.  Some  urged  me  to  stay  and  prosecute,  but  being 
better  employed  I  went  on  preaching  the  everlasting  gospel, 
and  upon  my  return  was  well  paid  for  what  I  had  suffered." 

In  this  case  we  see  the  wonderful  power  of  kindness.  It 
doubtless  saved  Whitefield's  life. 

During  Whitefield's  detention  at  Plymouth,  he  preached 
with  such  great  power  to  such  large  congregations,  that  he  said, 
"preaching  at  the  Dock  is  now  like  preaching  at  the  Taber- 
nacle." "And  I  trust  in  the  five  weeks  I  waited  for  the  convoy, 
hundreds  were  awakened  and  turned  to  the  Lord."  While 
preaching  here  one  day  in  a  Quaker's  field,  he  spoke  so  loud 
that  Henry  Tanner  and  his  fellowship  builders,  "  deemed  him 
mad,"  and  went  with  their  pockets  full  of  stones,  to  stone  and 
throw  him  down.     But  when  Tanner  saw  Mr.  Whitefield  with 


240  LIFE  OF  WHITEFIELD. 

open  arms  and  gushing  tears,  entreating  "poor  lost  sinners  "  to 
come  to  Jesus,  his  resolution  failed  him.  He  went  home  deeply- 
impressed,  determined  to  hear  him  the  next  morning.  He 
did.  Preaching  from  the  text,  "Beginning  at  Jerusalem," 
Whiteficld  vividly  described  "  the  cruel  murder  of  the  Lord  of 
life."  "  Then,  turning  to  the  spot  where  Tanner  stood,  he  said, 
'  You  are  reflecting  on  the  cruelty  of  these  inhuman  butchers 
who  imbrued  their  hands  in  the  Saviour's  innocent  blood.'  At 
this  moment  his  eye  fell  upon  Tanner,  and  he  forcibly  ex- 
claimed, '  Thou  art  the  man.'  The  arrow  stuck  fast,  and  the 
convicted  sinner  was  forced  to  cry,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me.' 
Whitefield  saw  the  effect,  and  met  the  emotion  with  a  burst  of 
tenderness  which  cheered  the  penitent.  Another  sermon  on 
Jacob's  vision  of  the  Ladder,  led  Tanner  up  to  the  Lamb  slain 
in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  and  thus  gave  him  both  joy  and 
peace  in  believing."  {Dr.  Philips  Tanner  afterwards  made  a 
very  successful  preacher. 


CHAPTER     XXIV. 


HIS    THIRD   VISIT    TO    AMERICA. 

AVING  achieved  many  grand  victories  and  en- 
dured many  fiery  trials  and  bloody  persecutions 
in  Great  Britain,  our  great  apostle  now  returns 
again  to  "  his  beloved  America."  Though 
feeble  in  health,  after  an  absence  of  over  three 
years,  and  "a  most  awful  and  solemn  parting" 
with  his  friends,  he  sailed  from  Plymouth  for 
Piscataway,  New  England,  August  4th,  1744. 
Blest  in  his  labors,  they  soon  began  to  have  regular  services  on 
board,  with  "  frequent  communions  and  days  of  humiliation  and 
fasting."  Sailing  out  with  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  other 
ships,  after  a  tedious  voyage  of  eleven  weeks,  he  reached  York, 
New  England,  October  30,  1744,  and  found  "a  large  company 
of  good  women  praying  for  his  safe  arrival."  This  encouraged 
him  very  much. 

When  near  the  Western  Islands  they  were  suddenly 
"alarmed  with  the  sight  of  two  ships  making  towards  them, 
which  their  captain  took  to  be  enemies."  With  guns  mount- 
ing, chains  rattling,  etc.,  he  says,  "  the  preparations  for  an  en- 
gagement, to  me,  who  am  naturally  a  coward,  were  formidable." 
"All  except  myself  seemed  ready  for  fight."  Mrs.  Whitefield 
commenced  making  cartridges  for  the  soldiers,  but  he  went 
down  into  the  hold  of  the  ship.  But  disliking  his  situation,  he 
says,  "  I  crept  up  on  deck,  and  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  beat 
16  (241) 


242  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

up  for  arms  by  a  warm  exhortation."  Upon  a  nearer  approach, 
however,  the  apprehended  enemies  proved  to  be  friends — two 
ships  that  started  out  with  them. 

On  reaching  York,  his  distinguished  friend  Col.  Pepperill, 
once  a  noted  deist,  but  now  one  of  White-field's  converts,  came 
with  his  friends  in  his  own  boat  to  take  Mr.  Whitefield  home 
with  him,  but  he  was  so  unwell  he  could  not  go.  "Convulsed 
from  waist  to  toes,  a  fatal  convulsion  was  immediately  appre- 
hended." 

"  My  wife  and  friends  sW)od  weeping  by, 
In  tears  resolved  to  see  me  die.'? 

"Filled  with  divine  consolation,  I  begged  them  not  to  be 
shocked.  My  Saviour  whispered  that  all  was  well."  He  soon 
grew  worse  and  became  "very  low."  After  recovering  par- 
tially he  caught  cold  in  crossing  the  Ferry  to  Portsmouth,  and 
immediately  took  a  relapse,  and  was  again  brought  nigh  unto 
death.  But  having  an  appointment  to  preach  the  next  evening, 
and  getting  better  suddenly  about  the  hour  appointed,  when 
the  doctor  was  about  to  give  him  his  medicine,  he  exclaimed, 
"Doctor,  my  pains  are  suspended;  by  the  help  of  God  I'll  go 
and  preach, 

"And  then  come  home  and  die." 

"  With  some  difficulty  he  reached  the  pulpit."  Pale  as  death, 
he  looked  like  one  just  risen  from  the  dead.  "As  a  dying  man," 
he  went  to  "bear  his  dying  testimony  to  the  truths  he  had 
formerly  preached."  "  Nature  was  almost  exhausted ;  but,  0, 
what  life  I  what  power  spread  all  around  !  All  seemed  to  be 
melted  and  drowned  in  tears." 

"The  cry  after  me,  when  I  left  the  pulpit,"  he  says,  "was 
like  the  cry  of  sincere  mourners  at  the  funeral  of  a  dear  friend." 
The  people  heard  him  as  a  dying  man,  and  he  says,  "the  invis- 
ible realities  of  another  world  lay  open  to  my  view.     Expect- 


HIS    THIRD    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  243 

ing  to  stretch  into  eternity,  and  to  be  with  my  Master  before 
morning,  I  spoke  with  pecuhar  energy.  Such  effects  followed 
the  Word,  I  thought  it  was  worth  dying  for  a  thousand  times. 
Though  wonderfully  comforted  within,  at  my  return  home,  I 
thought  I  was  dying  indeed.  I  was  laid  on  a  bed  upon  the 
ground,  near  the  fire,  and  I  heard  my  friends  say,  '  He  is 
GONE.'  " 

By  November  24th  he  was  able  to  leave  Portsmouth  in  a 
coach,  with  his  wife,  for  Boston,  where  he  was  received  with 
great  joy  by  the  common  people,  but  with  shyness  by  many  of 
the  clergy.  Here  he  preached  to  crowded  congregations  in 
the  largest  churches,  with  great  and  growing  acceptance,  and 
administered  the  Sacrament  in  Dr.  Coleman's  church  the  first 
Sabbath  after  his  arrival.  The  following  Sabbath  he  admin- 
istered it  in  Mr.  Cheever's  church.  "  Mr.  Whitefield  comes," 
says  Dr.  Prince,  "  with  the  same  extraordinaiy  .spirit  of  meek- 
ness, sweetness  and  universal  benevolence  as  before.  He  first 
applies  himself  to  the  understanding  of  his  hearers,  and  then 
their,  affections. " 

In  speaking  of  the  effects  of  his  former  labors  in  Boston 
and  New  PLngland,  Dr.  Coleman  says,  "Upon  Mr.  Tennent's 
going  there  as  an  itinerant,  the  awakening  greatly  increased  in 
various  places,  till,  at  length,  the  work  so  advanced  everywhere, 
that  many  thought  the  latter-day  glory  was  indeed  come,  and 
that  a  nation  was  to  be  born  in  a  day."  And  Whitefield  says, 
"  By  all  the  accounts  I  have,  one  would  have  imagined  that 
the  millennium  was  coming  indeed." 

But  amidst  all  this -glorious  work,  because  when  young  and 
inexperienced," in  his  fiery  zeal,  Whitefield  used  some  unguarded 
expressions,  and  said,  when  here  before,  "he  feared  many  in 
Boston  were  Pharisees,  and  that  many  New-England  preachers 
did  not  experimentally  know  Christ,  and  that  the  light  of  the 


244  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD, 

Universities  had  now  become  darkness — darkness  that  may  be 
felt,"  there  arose  quite  a  strong  opposition  against  him  among 
some  of  the  clergy.  They  even  went  so  far  as  to  get  up  and 
publish  small  testimonials  against  him.  His  friend,  good  Mr. 
Coles,  said  "they  did  not  weigh  much." 

Says  Dr.  Belcher,  "The  General  Association  of  Connecti- 
cut, in  June,  1745,  advised  that  he  be  not  invited  to  preach  in 
any  of  the  churches."  And  that  "several  similar  bodies  in 
Massachusetts  had  acted  in  a  similar  manner.  Yale  and  liar 
vard  colleges  also  opposed  him.  Harvard  published  som.. 
bitter  things  against  him.  But  his  friends  published  testimo- 
nials in  his  favor.     Thus  waxed  the  conflict." 

But  to  justify  Whitefield's  remark  about  the  unconverted 
Boston  clergy,  a  Boston  gentleman  says  he  knew  over  twent\ 
who  had  been  preachmg  for  years,  who  acknowledged  White 
field  to  be  their  spiritual  father.  One  of  whom,  when  nigh  to 
atheism,  went  to  hear  Whitefield,  "  to  pick  a  hole  in  his  coat, 
but  God  picked  a  hole  in  his  heart,  which  was  afterward  healed 
by  the  blood  of  Christ."     {Gillies  Col.  428.) 

"  But  amidst  all  this  smoke,"  says  he,  "  a  blessed  fire  broke 
out."  He  still  held  such  a  firm  hold  of  the  public  heart,  that 
congregations  sometimes  invited  him  to  preach  for  them  with- 
out the  consent  of  their  pastors.  And  being  so  anxious  to  hear 
him,  they  persuaded  him  to  establish  a  regular  lecture  in  B  os- 
ton  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Without  expecting  many, 
he  commenced  in  a  small  church  ;  but  when  he  saw  two  or 
three  thousand  flocking  to  hear,  he  had  to  use  two  of  the 
largest  churches  in  the  city.  "To  see  so  many  going  so  early 
to  get  food  for  their  souls,  feasted  his  own  heart."  His  Boston 
friends  now  kindly  offered  to  build  him  the  largest  house  of 
worship  in  America,  but  still  wishing  to  travel,  he  thankfully 
declined  it. 


HIS    THIRD    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  245 

In  the  summer  of  1743,  nearly  three  years  after  the  revival 
began,  at  a  convention  held  in  Boston,  135  ministers  of  Boston 
and  New  England  bore  their  united  testimony  to  the  "late 
happy  revival  of  religion,  through  a  remarkable  Divine  influ- 
ence, in  many  parts  of  this  land."  This  was  signed  by  Dr. 
Coleman  and  nearly  all  of  the  leading  ministers  of  Boston. 

While  in  Boston,  "a  man  of  good  parts  and  ready  wit" 
came  to  hear  Whitefield,  to  furnish  himself  with  matter  for 
preaching  ludicrous  temperance  discourses  at  a  hotel.  While 
listening  for  this  sinful  purpose,  "  God  was  pleased  to  prick  him 
to  the  heart."  "  Full  of  horror,"  he  confessed  his  crimes  and 
longed  to  ask  Whitefield's  pardon,  but  was  afraid  to  do  it.  But 
stung  with  guilt  and  shame,  he  went  to  him  and  cried  with  a 
low,  plaintive  voice  :  "  Sir,  can  yon  forgive  nie  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir," 
he  said,  "very  readily."  "  Indeed,  sir,"  he  replied,  "  you  can- 
not when  I  tell  you  all."  Bidding  him  to  sit  down,  Whitefield 
preached  the  Gospel  to  him. 

About  the  ist  of  August,  1746,  Whitefield's  friend,  Col. 
Pepperill,  was  appointed  to  command  an  expedition  to  Cape 
Breton.  After  consulting  Whitefield,  he  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment, and  then  came  the  cry,  "  To  arms !  to  arms  ! "  His  friend 
Sherburne,  being  appointed  commissaiy,  he  urgently  requested 
Mr.  Whitefield  to  give  him  a  7noUo  for  their  flag.  After  repeated 
requests,  he  gave  him 

'W//  desperandiiin  Chris  to  diice  " — 
"  If  Christ  be  captain,  no  fear  of  defeat."       Under  which  great 
numbers  enlisted.       Before  their  embarkation,  Mr.  Whitefield 
gave  them  an  appropriate  sermon.      In  about  six  weeks   they 
took  Louisburgh,  and  returned  laden  with  the  spoils  of  victory. 

"Having  taken  a  weeping  leave  of  dear  Boston,"  with 
renewed  health,  Mr.  Whitefield  now  set  his  face  southward,  and 
hurrying  on  to  see  his  poor  orphans,  he  gives  us  but  few  letters. 


246  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Passing  through  Yarmouth,  Connecticut,  Plymouth  and  Rhode 
Island,  he  generally  preached  twice  a  day,  to  thousands,  with 
great  power,  until  he  reached  New  York.  Here  he  preached 
as  usual,  and  "  found  that  the  seed  sown  had  sprung  up  abund- 
antly." On  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
preaching,  through  an  interpreter,  to  some  converted  Indians, 
and  of  seeing  about  fifty  young  ones  in  school,  studying  the 
Assembly's  catechism,  A  revival  had  been  going  on  through 
the  labors  of  Mr.  Brainard.  The  church  at  Philadelphia  that 
grew  out  of  his  labors  there,  had  now  become  so  strong  that 
they  offered  Mr.  Whitefield  £Z(X>  a  year  to  become  their  pas- 
tor for  half  his  time,  giving  him  six  months  a  year  for  travel- 
ing. But  declining  the  call,  he  says,  "The  Lord  Jesus  keeps 
me  from  catching  at  the  golden  bait." 

READING    HIS    SERMON    "KINDLED    A    FIRE." 

On  reaching  Hanover,  Va.,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  "a  fire 
kindled"  and  "  a  sweet  shaking  among  the  dry  bones  "  by  read- 
ing his  sermons.  When  Whitefield  preached  at  Glasgow  a 
number  of  his  extempore  sermons  were  taken  down  in  short- 
hand and  published  almost  as  fast  as  he  preached  them.  A 
volume  of  them  was  taken  to  Virginia,  and  fell  into  the  hands 
of  Samuel  Morris,  who  read  them  with  deep  interest  in  1743. 
"  He  then  read  them  to  others.  They  were  awakened  and  con- 
vinced. Other  laborers  were  sent  for,  and  many,  both  whites 
and  blacks,  were  converted  to  God."  They  met  every  Sabbath 
and  on  week  days,  in  his  house,  till  it  became  too  small  to  hold 
the  people  ;  then  they  built  a  meeting-house  "  merely  for  read- 
ing!' Accustomed  to  the  Liturgy,  he  says,  "none  of  us  durst 
attempt  extempore  prayer."  The  interest  spread,  and  Mr.  Mor- 
rison was  invited  to  go  abroad  and  read  Whitefield's  stirring 
sermons.     "  By  their  plainness  and  fervor  they  produced  a  pow- 


HIS    THIRD    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  24/ 

erful  effect."  "  The  feelings  of  many,"  says  Dr.  Belcher,  "were 
powerfully  excited,  and  they  could  not  forbear  bitter  and  violent 
weeping.  Numbers  were  pricked  to  the  heart,  and  '  What  shall 
we  do  ? '  was  the  general  cry.  The  Lord  spoke  as  on  Mount 
Sinai,  with  a  voice  of  thunder,  and  sinners,  like  the  mountain 
itself,  trembled."  Thus  this  good  work  went  on  until  Provi- 
dence sent  them  ministers.  Mr.  Morrison  was  tried  for  letting 
Mr.  Roan,  Presbyterian,  preach  in  his  house.  Afterwards  Rev. 
Messrs.  Tennent,  Blair,  Robinson  and  President  Davies  came 
and  preached.  Then  Whitefield  came  and  preached  four  or 
five  days,  which  greatly  revived  them.  This  was  the  origin  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Virginia,  and  of  the  present  Presbyterian 
church  of  Hanover,  and  three  other  churches  in  that  vicinity. 
"Behold,  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth."  ''Morris' 
reading-house  "  is  still  known  in  the  neighborhood.  Thus  we 
see  the  wonderful  effect  of  Whitefield's  sermons,  even  when 
read. 

HIS   TOUR    NORTH. 

On  January  23,  1747,  we  find  him  back  to  Charleston 
again.  Having  established  a  LaJin  school  in  connection  with 
Bethesda,  and  received  a  ^300  contribution  from  his  Charles- 
ton friends,  with  which  he  bought  a  good  well-improved  plan- 
tation of  640  acres  in  South  Carolina  to  support  Bethesda,  he 
said,  March  15,  "That  it  was  never  in  better  order  than  now. 
The  blessed  Spirit  has  been  striving  with  several  of  the  chil- 
dren, and  I  hope  ere  long  to  see  some  ministers  go  forth  from> 
that  despised  place  called  Georgia."  After  a  pleasant  journey 
of  about  five  weeks  from  Charleston,  we  find  him  at  Bohemia, 
Maryland.  Here  he  says,  "  I  purpose,  God  willing,  to  take  a 
three-weeks'  circuit  in  hunting  after  Maryland  sinners."  "Jesus 
hath  indeed  done  wonders  for  us.  As  we  came  along,  the 
wilderness  seemed  to  blossom  like  the  rose."     After  making  a 


248  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

short  visit  to  Dover,  Pa.,  he  returned  much  rejoiced  to  find 
that  "  Maryland  is  yielding  converts  to  the  blessed  Jesus.  The 
harvest  is  promising."  Just  before  he  left  Maryland,  he  says, 
"I  have  now  been  on  the  stretch,  preaching  continually  for 
almost  three  weeks."  "My  body  is  often  extremely  weak, 
'but  the  joy  of  the  Lord  is  my  strength,'  and  through  Christ 
strengthening  me,  I  intend  going  on  till  I  drop." 

About  the  first  of  June  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
preached  with  his  usual  success  and  power.  "  With  great 
regret,"  he  says,  "  I  have  omitted  preaching  one  night  to  oblige 
my  friends,  that  they  may  not  charge  me  with  murdering  myself 
— but  I  hope  yet  to  die  in  the  pulpit,  or  soon  after  I  come  out  of 
it.  Dying  is  exceeding  pleasant  to  me."  He  was  so  very  anx- 
ious to  preach,  that  while  at  Philadelphia  he  was  so  weak  he 
could  not,  he  said,  *"7z'.y  hard  to  be  sfent — but  I  must  be  tried 
every  way."  Hoping  to  regain  his  health  he  now  went  further 
north.  He  reached  New  York  June  28th,  "with  a  soul  longing 
to  take  its  flight  to  Jesus." 

Here  he  says,  "The  people  flock  rather  more  than  ever, 
and  the  Lord  vouchsafes  us  solemn  meetings."  Having  been 
burdened  so  long  with  his  Orphan  House  affairs,  he  now  hoped, 
through  the  products  of  his  new  plantation  and  donations,  to 
be  relieved.  Although  at  one  time  he  had  almost  concluded 
never  to  return  to  England,  he  now  determines  to  go  back  next 
spring.  After  preaching  twice  with  great  power,  to  unusually 
large  congregations  in  New  York,  he  hurried  off  to  Boston, 
where  he  was  received  with  great  warmth.  "Again,"  he  says, 
"we  have  seen  great  things  in  New  England.  Congregations 
were  rather  larger  than  ever,  and  opposers'  mouths  were 
stopped.  Arrows  of  conviction  flew  thick  and  stuck  fast. 
Weak  as  I  was  and  have  been,  I  was  enabled  to  travel  iioo 
miles  and   preach    daily."     And  with    his   obligations   to   his 


HIS    THIRD    VISIT    TO    AMERICA,  249 

Saviour  increased,  and  his  attachment  to  New  England  revived 
by  his  late  visit,  he  says,  "  If  I  forget  her,  let  my  right  hand 
forget  her  cunning." 

On  returning  to  New  York,  with  his  towering  faith  increased, 
and  his  strength  and  health  improved,  he  says,  in  a  letter  to 
Gilbert  Tennent,  "  God  gives  me  grace  to  spend  it  to  the  utmost 
in  the  Redeemer's  service.  I  am  determined  in  His  strength 
to  die  fighting,  though  it  be  on  my  stumps!' 

"  I  think  the  foundation  of  the  Moravians  is  too  narrow  for 
their  superstructure.  The  Lord  bless  what  is  right,  and  rectify 
what  is  wrong  in  them,  in  us,  and  in  all.  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus. 
Amen!" 

After  his  long  journey  to  the  north,  he  now  returns  south 
and  makes  ready  to  go  back  to  England.  Mrs.  Whitefield 
had  gone  on  before  him.  At  Philadelphia,  September  ii, 
1747,  the  news  of  the  death  of  his  good  friend.  Dr.  Coleman, 
brought  him  to  his  knees.  Renewing  his  strength,  he  says, 
"  My  heart  is  yet  springing  for  God,  and  /  am  determined  to 
die  fighting.  Jesus  is  my  rock,  my  stay,  my  God,  and  my  all." 
And  in  finishing  his  paternal  letter  to  his  dear  Bro.  H.,  he  says, 
"  My  heart  is  almost  too  full  to  subscribe  myself,  Ever  Yours." 

With  his  heart  enlarged  while  in  New  England  and  at  New 
York,  he  writes  from  Philadelphia,  Sept.  nth,  to  his  old  friend 
John  Wesley,  and  says,  with  his  characteristic  unselfishness, 
"I  rejoice  as  much  in  your  success  as  in  my  own.  O  for 
heaven!  where  we  shall  mistake,  judge,  and  grieve  one  another 
no  more."  In  a  letter  of  the  same  date,  he  says  to  Charles 
Wesley,  "  I  love  you  most  dearly,"  praying  for  his  success. 

Preaching  as  he  went,  he  now  winds  his  way  to  the  South. 
Having  preached  through  seven  counties  in  Maryland,  he 
reached  Annapolis,  November  8,  "and  found  the  harvest 
great." 


250  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

On  October  6,  1747,  he  passed  over  into  the  "  ungos- 
peHzed  wilds"  of  North  Carolina,  and  set  out  "hunting  after 
sinners  in  North  Carolina  woods."  "  It  is  pleasant  work," 
he  says,  "  though  my  body  is  weak  and  crazy.  After  a 
short  fermentation  in  the  grave,  it  will  be  fashioned  like  unto 
Christ's  glorious  body.  The  thought  of  this  rejoices  my 
soul,  and  makes  me  long  to  leap  my  seventy  years."  He 
wrote  several  letters  at  Bathtown,  North  Carolina,  and  long- 
ing to  leave  a  bright  testimony  for  the  Lord,  he  said,  "  I 
would  fain  die  blazi7ig,  not  with  human  glory,  but  with  love 
to  Jesus.  O,  that  every  minute  may  be  employed  for  God!  I 
would  not  but  be  thus  employed  for  millions  of  worlds." 

Wit^  his  affections  still  lingering  with  New  England,  while 
here  in  these  lonely  wilds  of  North  Carolina,  he  says,  "  God 
bnly  knows  what  a  cross  it  was  to  me  to  leave  dear  New 
England  so  soon.  I  hope  death  will  not  be  so  bitter  to  me,  as 
was  parting  from  my  friends.  Glad  shall  I  be  to  be  prayed 
thither  again,  before  I  see  my  native  land.  But  future  things 
belong  to  God.  I  would  be  just  where  He  would  have  me, 
though  it  be  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  I  would 
willingly  put  a  blank  into  his  hands  to  be  filled  up  just  as  He 
pleases."  Encouraged  with  his  labors  in  North  Carolina,  he 
says,  "Jesus  makes  the  barren  wilderness  to  smile." 

Hastening  on  to  see  his  poor  orphans,  he  reached  Charleston 
October  25,  and  started  for  Georgia  the  next  day. 

Here  the  curtain  drops,  and  makes  a  wide  gap  in  his  life. 
From  October  25,  1747,  to  May  27,  1748,  he  fails  to  give  us 
a  single  letter. 


CHAPTER     XXV. 


WHITEFIELD    IN    BERMUDAS. 

EIGHED  down  with  the  cares  of  the  Orphan 
House,  "and  being  much  troubled  with 
stitches  in  my  side,"  he  says,  "I  was  advised 
to  go  to  Bermudas  for  my  health."  He  em- 
barked, therefore,  and  landed  there  March 
15,  1748.  He  was  received  with  great  kind- 
ness and  treated  very  respectably  by  all. 
"  Rev.  Mr.  Halliday,"  he  says,  "  received  me 
in  a  most  affectionate  manner,  and  begged  I  would  make  his 
house  my  home." 

Delighted  with  the  situation  of  the  island  and  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  people,  he  at  once  commenced  preaching  and 
going  about  doing  good.  By  invitation  he  dined  with  the 
governor,  who  treated  him  very,  courteously.  On  the  first 
Sabbath  he  read  prayers  and  preached  twice  in  different 
churches,  to  large  attentive  congregations.  Some  wept.  Sev- 
eral invited  him  to  their  homes.  Praying  that  they  might 
receive  Jesus  in  their  hearts,  he  closed  the  day  with  a  double 
*'amen." 

Encourged  with  the  results  of  the  second  Sabbath,  he 
begins  the  record  of  it  with  a  shout  of  ''Glory  be  to  God!"  He 
preached  twice  in  Mr.  Paul's  (Presbyterian)  church  with  great 
power,  to  a  congregation  of  about  400.  Many  colored  people 
attended.  Cheered  by  the  beautiful  scenery,  delightful  climate 
of  the  island,  and  the  hospitality  of  the  people,  and  their  atten- 

(251) 


252  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

tion  to  the  gospel,  he  exclaimed,  "O  how  does  the  Lord  make 
way  for  a  poor  stranger  in  a  strange  land."  He  preached  again 
with  a  still  deeper  effect  the  next  day.  On  March  3 1 ,  he  preached 
on  an  adjoining  island,  called  Ireland,  and  was  surprised  to  see 
so  many  from  other  quarters.  Carried  about  upon  the  affections 
of  the  people,  he  returned  and  preached  twice  the  next  Sabbath 
in  Mr.  Paul's  church  with  increased  power.  When  dining  one 
day  with  the  governor,  the  president,  the  judge,  the  collector,  and 
Dr.  F.,  Mr.  Whitefield  says,  "all  wondered  at  my  speaking  so 
freely  and  fluently  without  notes.  The  governor  asked  me  if  I 
used  minutes.  I  answered  '  No.'  He  said  it  was  a  great  gift." 
The  governor  asked  some  questions  about  the  meaning  of  the 
words  "  Hades,"  "free  will,"  "Adam's  fall,"  "  predestination," etc. 
all  of  which  Whitefield  answered  so  pertinently  that  all  were 
so  highly  pleased  at  the  close,  that  they  all  shook  hands  with 
him  and  invited  him  to  their  respective  homes. 

On  April  7,  he  preached  in  a  private  house  on  David's  Island 
to  about  80  persons,  and  the  following  Sabbath  with  increased 
power  to  enlarged  congregations  in  Mr.  Paul's  church.  He 
now  preached  nearly  every  week-day  in  private  houses ;  and 
often  three  times  on  the  Sa'obath  with  greatly  increased  interest. 
At  the  church  he  says,  "  I  began  to  preach,  and  the  people  to 
hear  and  be  affected  as  in  the  days  of  old  at  home.  Praise  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul."  Preaching  out-doors,  in  private  houses  and 
funerals,  the  interest  still  increased  more  and  more.  On  May 
1st  he  says,  "I  preached  in  the  fields,  to  a  large  company  of 
negroes  and  a  number  of  whites,  who  came  to  hear  what  I  had 
to  say  to  them.  There  were  near  1500  in  all.  They  seemed 
very  sensible  and  attentive."  Seeing  the  difficulty  of  preaching 
to  suit  them,  he  says,  "  If  ever  a  minister,  in  preaching,  need 
the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  to  be  joined  to  the  harmlessness  of 
the  dove,  it  must  be  when  discoursing  to  negroes.     Vouchsafe 


WHITEFIELD    IN    BERMUDAS.  253 

me  this  favor,  O  God,  for  Thy  dear  Son's  sake!"  Some  of 
them  did  not  Hke  his  plain,  searching  preaching — others  were 
very  thankful,  and  came  home  to  their  masters'  houses,  saying 
that  they  would  "strive  to  sin  no  more.''  "  Poor  hearts!  These 
different  accounts  affected  me."  He  rejoiced  to  find  the  colored 
people  so  tender  and  so  knowing. 

The  following  Sabbath  he  preached  with  great  power  to  a 
melting  and  rather  larger  congregation  than  ever ;  and  in  the 
evening  to  the  colored  people.  "  To  see  so  many  black  faces 
was  affecting."  They  listened  very  attentively.  Some  wept. 
The  next  Sabbath,  May  15th,  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon 
at  Mr.  Paul's  church,  to  a  house  crowded  to  overflowing. 
Hundreds  .stood  outside.  Attention  sat  on  every  face  ;  and 
when  I  came  to  take  my  leave,  oh,  what  a  sweet,  unaffected 
weeping.  I  believe  there  were  few  dry  eyes.  My  own  heart  was 
affected,  and  though  I  have  parted  from  friends  so  often,  yet  I  find 
every  fresh  parting  almost  unmans  me,  and  very  much  affects 
my  heart.  Surely,  a  great  work  is  begun  in  some  souls  at  Ber- 
mudas. Carry  it  on,  O  Lord,  and  if  it  be  Thy  will,  send  me  to 
this  dear  people  again." 

Detained  over  another  Sabbath,  he  gave  them  another 
weeping  farewell.  "  Go  where  I  would,"  he  says,  "  upon  the 
least  notice,  houses  are  crowded,  and  the  poor  souls  that  fol- 
low are  soon  drenched  in  tears."  Though  ready  to  die  with 
heat  and  straining,  yet  he  was  enabled  to  preach  louder  than 
usual.  "  After  service,  when  I  lay  down  on  the  bed  to  rest, 
many  came  weeping  bitterly  around  me,  and  took  their  last 
farewell.  Though  my  body  was  very  weak,  yet  my  soul  was 
full  of  comfort.  Abundance  of  prayers  and  blessings  were  put 
up  for  my  safe  passage  to  England,  and  speedy  return  to  Ber- 
mudas again.  God  willing,  I  intend  visiting  these  dear  people 
once  more." 

Highly  appreciating  his  services,  they  loaded  him  down  with 


254  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

pro\nsions,  and  raised  by  private  voluntary  contributions  over 
one  hundred  pounds  sterling.  This,  besides  aiding  him  in 
paying  the  Orphan  House  debt,  enabled  him  to  make  a  hand- 
some remittance  to  his  dear  wife,  whom  he  had  left  at  Bethesda 
in  America. 

Urged  to  return  to  England,  and  dreading,  in  his  feeble 
health,  to  go  back  to  America  at  that  season  of  the  year,  early 
in  June,  1748,  he  sailed  for  England  on  board  of  "  The  Betsy." 
After  a  pleasant  voyage  of  some  thirty  days,  he  reached  Eng- 
land July  5,  1748.  Chased  and  fired  at  three  times  one  day  by 
a  large  French  vessel,  once  he  says,  "  We  gave  itp  all  for  lost. 
But  the  vessel  turning  her  course,  the  captain  announced,  '  the 
danger  is  over.' "  The  captain  gave  Whitefield  a  free  passage, 
but  he  was  not  allowed  to  preach  on  board.  This,  he  says, 
"  may  spare  my  lungs,  but  it  grieves  my  heart."  He  read 
prayers  daily.     His  health  was  somewhat  improved.* 

*  During  this  voyage,  he  completed  his  abridgment  of  Law's  Serious  Call,  and 
finished  revising  his  journals.  And  upon  finding  himself  wrong  in  many  things 
in  revisuig  them,  with  his  characteristic  honesty,  simplicity  and  open-heartedness,  he 
makes  the  following  confession  :  "  Alas  !  alas  !  in  how  many  things  have  I  judged 
and  acted  wrong.  I  have  been  too  rash  and  hasty  in  giving  characters  both  to 
places  and  persons.  Being  fond  of  Scripture  language,  I  have  used  a  style  too 
apostolical,  and  at  the  same  time,  I  have  been  too  bitter  in  my  zeal.  Wild -fire 
has  been  mixed  with  it,  and  I  find  that  I  frequently  wrote  and  spoke  in  my  own 
spirit,  when  I  thought  I  was  writing  and  speaking  by  the  assistance  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,  I  have  likewise  too  much  made  inward  impressions  my  rule  of  acting, 
and  too  soon  and  too  explicitly  published  what  had  better  been  kept  in  longer,  or 
told  after  my  death.  By  these  things,  I  have  hurt  the  blessed  cause  I  would  de- 
fend, and  also  stirred  up  needless  opposition.  This  has  humbled  me  much,  and 
made  me  think  of  a  saying  of  Mr.  Henry's,  '  Joseph  had  more  honesty  than  he 
had  policy,  or  he  never  would  have  told  his  dreams.'  At  the  same  time,  I  cannot 
but  praise  God,  who  filled  me  with  so  much  holy  fire,  and  carried  me,  a  poor,  weak 
youth,  through  such  a  torrent  both  of  popularity  and  contempt,  and  set  so  many 
seals  to  my  unworthy  ministrations.  I  bless  Him  for  ripening  my  judgment  a  lit- 
tle more,  for  giving  me  to  see  and  confess,  and  I  hope,  in  some  degree,  to  correct 
and  amend,  some  of  my  mistakes." 


CHAPTER     XXVI. 


FURTHER   LABORS    IN    ENGLAND   AND   SCOTLAND. 


AVING  endured  "  torrents  of  popularity,"  and 
torrents  of  trials  in  America,  after  an  absence  of 
near  four  years,  he  reached  London  July  7, 
1748,  "and  was  received  by  thousands  with  a 
joy  that  almost  overcame  both  them  and  me." 

Still  possessing  an  unquenchable  desire  to 
win  souls,  though  feeble  in  health,  he  resumed 
preaching  at  once,  fully  determined  to  work  on 
"  till  he  could  work  no  more."  Meeting  in  the  large  church 
of  St.  Bartholomew,  multitudes  flocked  to  hear  him.  He  had 
a  thousand  communicants  the  first  Sabbath.  But  as  Antino- 
mianism  had  "made  sad  havoc"  in  the  religious  societies,  "the 
congsegation  at  the  Tabernacle  was  sadly  scattered."  But 
upon  going  out  to  Moorfields,  he  found  the  prospects  as  en- 
couraging as  ever.  The  scattered  congregations  were  soon 
gathered  again,  glowing  with  their  former  zeal  and  power. 

Oppressed  with  the  Orphan  House  debt,  he  now  sold  all  his 
household  furniture  to  pay  it. 


WHITEFIELD    AND    THE    NOBILITY. 

'Tis  said,  "  ever>'  man  has  his  price."  And  Whitefield  now 
began  to  rise  in  the  estimation  of  the  nobility.  Hitherto  he 
had  preached  mainly  in  the  lanes,  streets,  fields  and  woods;  but 
now  he  is  cordially  received  into  the  drawing-rooms  of  the 
rich  and  noble.     Even  before  his   arrival,   Lady   Huntingdon 

(25s) 


256  LIFE   ©F   WHITEFIELD. 

had  engaged  Howell  Harris  to  bring  him  to  her  house  at 
Chelsea  "  soon  as  he  came  ashore."  He  went  and  preached 
twice  in  her  drawing-room.  The  effect  was  so  deep  that  it 
induced  her  to  invite  some  of  the  nobility  to  hear  him.  In  a 
few  days  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  Lord  Bolingbroke,  and  a 
whole  circle  of  them  attended ;  and  having  heard  him  once,  they 
desired  to  hear  him  again.  "  All  behaved  quite  well,"  he  says, 
"  and  were  in  some  degree  affected.  Lord  Chesterfield  thanked 
me,  and  said, '  Sir,  I  will  not  tell  you  what  I  shall  tell  others, 
how  I  approve  of  you.'  He  conversed  with  me  freely  after- 
wards." Lord  Bolingbroke  was  much  moved,  and  desired  that 
I  should  come  and  see  him  the  next  morning.  I  did ;  and  his 
lordship  behaved  with  great  candor  and  frankness.  To  extend 
Mr.  Whitefield's  influence  among  the  nobility,  Lady  Hunting- 
don now  moved  to  London,  and  arranged  to  have  him  preach 
twice  a  week  regularly  at  her  house.  The  interest  increased. 
And  after  preaching  several  weeks  to  many  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished lords  and  ladies  of  -the  kingdom,  such  as  the 
Duchess  of  Argyle,  Lady  Betty  Campbell,  etc.,  he  says, 
"Blessed  be  God,  the  prospect  is  promising.  Last  Sunday  I 
preached  to  a  most  brilliant  assembly.  They  expressed  great 
approbation,  and  some,  I  think,  begin  to  feel."  The  interest 
was  so  great  that  the  ladies  of  rank  organized  themselves  into 
a  regular  prayer-meeting.  And  says  Lady  Huntingdon,  "  re- 
ligion was  never  so  much  the  subject  of  conversation  as  now." 

WHITEFIELD    AND    "  THE    DEVIL'S    CASTAWAY." 

Eager  to  win  souls,  Whitefield  sometimes  went  great  lengths 
in  persuading  sinners  to  come  to  Jesus.  One  evening  about 
this  time,  he  said  in  his  sermon,  that  "  Christ  is  so  ready  to  re- 
ceive sinners,  that  He  is  willing  to  receive  even  the  devil's  cast- 
aways!"    One  of  Lady  Huntingdon's  friends  heard  him  say 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND   AND    SCOTLAND.  2$y 

this,  and  came  complaining  to  her  about  it,  saying,  "Did  you 
ever  hear  of  such  a  thing  since  you  were  born?"  Acknowl- 
edging its  singularity.  Lady  Huntingdon  called  Mr.  Whitefield 
into  the  drawing-room  to  answer  the  heavy  charge  brought 
against  him.  He  at  once  plead  guilty  of  the  charge.  "  Whether 
I  did  what  was  right,  you  can  judge  from  the  following  circum- 
stance :  Did  your  ladyship  notice,  about  half  an  hour  ago,  a 
very  modest,  single  rap  at  the  door  ?  It  was  given  by  a  poor, 
miserable-looking,  aged  female,  who  requested  to  speak  with 
me.  I  desired  her  to  be  shown  into  the  parlor,  when  she  ac- 
costed me  in  the  following  manner :  '  I  believe,  sir,  you  preached 
last  evening  in  such  a  chapel.'  'Yes,  I  did.'  'Ah,  sir!  I  was 
accidentally  passing  the  door  of  that  chapel,  and  hearing  the 
voice  of  some  one  preaching,  I  did  what  I  have  never  been  in 
the  habit  of  doing — I  went  in :  and  one  of  the  first  things  I 
heard  you  say  was,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  so  willing  to  receive 
sinners,  that  He  did  not  object  to  receiving  the  devil's  castaways. 
Do  you  think,  sir,  that  Jesus  Christ  would  receive  me?'"  Mr. 
Whitefield  assured  her  there  was  not  a  doubt  of  it,  if  she  was 
but  willing  to  go  to  Him.  The  event  resulted  in  "the  sound 
conversion  of  the  poor  old  woman."  She  felt  a  bright  evidence 
that  though  her  sins  had  been  as  scarlet,  they  were  now  made 
as  white  as  snow. 

Lords  Chesterfield,  Bolingbroke  and  Horace  Walpole,  heard 
Whitefield  with  great  delight.  Chesterfield  furnished  him  a 
chapel.  Hume  listened  to  him  with  great  admiration,  and  said, 
"He  is  the  most  ingenious-preacher  Lever  heard:  it  is  worth 
going  twenty  miles  to  hear  him."  Of  the  latter  part  of  the 
sermon  he  ^aid,  "After  a  solemn  pause,  Mr.  Whitefield  thus 
addressed  his  numerous  auditory' :  'The  attendant  angel  is  just 
about  to  leave  the  threshold  and  ascend  to  heaven.  Shall  he 
ascend  and  not  bear  with  him  the  news  of  one  sinner  among 
«7 


258  LIFE   OF  WHITEPIELD. 

all  this  multitude,  reclaimed  from  the  error  of  his  ways  ? '  To 
give  greater  effect  to  his  exclamation,  he  stamped  with  his  foot, 
lifted  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  and  with  gushing  tears, 
cried  aloud,  '  Stop,  Gabriel !  Stop  Gabriel !  Stop,  ere  you  enter 
the  sacred  portals,  and  yet  carry  with  you  the  news  of  one  sin- 
ner converted  to  God ! '  He  then,  in  the  most  simple  but  ener- 
getic language,  described  what  he  called  a  Saviour's  dying  love 
to  sinful  men,  so  that  almost  all  the  assembly  melted  into  tears. 
This  address  was  accompanied  with  such  animated,  yet  natural, 
action,  that  it  surpassed  anything  I  ever  saw  or  heard  from  any 
other  preacher."  Whitefield  had  good  success  among  the 
nobility.  Among  his  converts  we  find  "the  Marquis  of  Lothian, 
Leven  and  Rae."  Also  "honorable  women  not  a  few."  Also 
Lady  Glenarchy,  Lord  and  Lady  Southerland,  Lady  Gertrude 
Hotham,  the  countess  of  Delitz,  and  Sir  Charles  Hotham  and 
many  others. 

Brought  up  in  poverty,  with  a  deep  sympathy  for  the  poor, 
Whitefield  had  no  special  predilection  for  the  rich  and  grciit; 
yet  he  delighted  to  do  them  good.  John  Wesley  did  not  like 
the  rich.  He  says,  "  I  do  not  desire  any  intercourse  with  any 
persons  of  quality  in  England.  They  do  me  no  good,  and  I 
fear  I  can  do  none  to  them.  But  I  love  the  poor ;  in  many  of 
them  I  find  pure,  genuine  grace,  unmixed  with  paint,  folly  and 
affectation.  How  unspeakable  is  the  advantage  in  point  of 
common  sense,  which  middling  people  have  over  the  rich!" 
(Southey's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  294.) 

But,  captivated  by  Whitefield's  eloquence  and  genius,  the 
rich  and  great  flocked  to  hear  him.  And  by  dealing  plainly 
and  honestly  with  them,  he  did  them  much  good.  In  one  of 
his  first  letters  to  the  Marquis  of  Lothian,  he  said,  "You  do 
well,  my  lord,  to  fear  lest  your  "convictions  should  wear  off. 
Come  then,  and  lay  yourself  at  the  feet  of  Jesus.     As  for 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  259 

praying  in  your  family,  I  entreat  you,  my  lord,  not  to  neglect 
it.  You  are  bound  to  do  it.  Apply  to  Christ  for  strength  to 
overcome  your  present  fears.  They  are  the  effects  of  pride, 
or  infidelity,  or  both." — A  very  plain,  pointed  letter  to  a  lord. 

LADY    HUNTINGDON. 

The  Right  Hon.  Selina,  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  with 
her  high  rank,  heroic  zeal,  deep  piety,  great  wealth  and  influ- 
ence, now  rendered  Mr.  Whitefield  very  important  assistance, 
both  among  the  rich  and  the  poor.  Blest  with  good  sense, 
sound  judgment,  a  fine  intellect,  and  a  noble  heart,  she  was 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  women  of  the  age.  T  living  for 
Christ,  like  Him  she  went  about  doing  good,  conversing  and 
praying  with  the  poor  and  afflicted.  When  the  Prince  of 
Wales  asked  Lady  Charlotte  E.  where  Lady  Huntingdon 
was,  she  replied  contemptuously,  "  I  suppose  she  is  praying 
with  her  beggars."  The  Prince  shook  his  head,  and  said, 
"  When  I  am  dying,  I  think  I  shall  be  happy  to  seize  the  skirt 
of  Lady  Huntingdon's  mantle."  Possessed  of  good  execu- 
tive powers,  she  appointed  her  chaplains  and  ministers,  had 
many  churches  organized,  held  her  annual  conferences,  and 
founded  a  new  sect,  called  after  her  own  name.  She  did  much 
in  healing  the  unhappy  breach  between  Whitefield  and  Wesley. 
After  preaching  in  her  house  one  day,  Whitefield  said,  "  Good 
Lady  Huntingdon  is  indeed  a  mother  in  Israel."  "  She  is  all 
in  a  flame  for  Jesus!'  Crucified  to  the  world,  and  conse- 
crated to  God,  she  gave  during  the  last  forty  years  of  her  life 
over  ^500.000  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  Pressed  for  funds, 
she  sold  all  her  jewelry  to  erect  a  chapel  for  the  poor.  To 
her  Whitefield  committed  the  care  of  his  societies.  (Her 
Life,  p.  1.16,  v.  I.)  She  died  with  "a  soul  filled  with  joy  un- 
speakable."    He   said  she  was  "a  rich  pearl" — p.  353. 


26o  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

WHITEFIELD    IN    SCOTLAND. 

Having  gathered  up  and  revived  his  scattered  flocks  in 
Loudon,  early  in  September,  1748,  Whitefield  made  a  third 
visit  to  Scotland.  While  going  there,  in  writing  to  a  discour- 
aged brother,  he  said,  ''Fear  not  temporal  support.  Though  I 
went  without  scrip  or  shoe,  I  have  lacked  nothing.  In  Jesus  I 
have  possessed  all  things." 

He  was  received  very  kindly  at  Glasgow,  and  vast  multitudes 
flocked  to  hear  him.  Although  some  ministers  were  a  little 
shy,  the  congregations  seemed  larger  than  ever.  Many,  both 
at  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  came  to  inform  him  of  their  con- 
version at  his  former  visits.  Encouraged  with  his  prospects,  he 
now  exclaimed,  "  Glory  be  to  God,  I  have  hitherto  found  that 
the  cross  of  Christ  has  been  lined  with  love.  This  has  made 
it  easy — this  now  makes  it  exceeding  light.  I  fear  prosperity' 
more  than  affliction."  The  spirit  of  opposition,  aroused  when 
Whitefield  was  here  about  six  years  ago,  he  now  found  still 
existing  in  some.  "Two  synods  and  a  Presbytery,"  he  says, 
"brought  me  on  the  carpet."  An  effort  was  made  to  prohibit 
him  from  preaching  in  any  of  the  seceding  churches,  but  failed. 
"And  all,"  he  says,  "has  worked  for  good.  The  more  Lwas 
blackened,  the  more  the  Redeemer  comforted  me."  His  old 
friends  became  more  friendly.  His  congregations  were  as  large 
as  ever,  and  his  services  were  more  acceptable  to  God's  people. 
The  Seceders  disliked  him  because  he  did  not  preach  the 
"Scotch  Covenant:"  "but  blessed  be  God,"  he  said,  "I  preach 
the  covenant  of  grace,  and  I  trust  many  souls  are  taught  to 
profit."  Dr.  Belcher  says  the  churches  of  Edinburgh  Presby- 
tery were  shut  against  him,  but  the  city  always  furnished  him  a 
church  to  preach  in  whenever  he  visited  them. 

About  this  time  Whitefield  had  another  interview  with 
Ralph    Erskine.     "It  was  short,  but  affecting."     On  parting, 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND   SCOTLAND,  26 I 

Erskine  embraced  Whitefield,  and  said,  "  We  have  seen  strange 
things."  True,  they  had.  Whitefield  had  been  traduced  by 
ministers  of  a  kirk,  and  Erskine  had  been  expelled  from  his 
own  Presbytery,  of  which  his  own  son  was  a  member.  The 
old  man  said,  "  It  was  a  sword  piercing  my  heart  to  see  Johnny 
sitting  with  them."  "Such  is  life."  While  in  Scotland  at  this 
time,  Whitefield  did  a  good  turn  for  the  college  of  New  Jersey. 
By  cooperating  with  others,  he  succeeded  in  securing  an  ap- 
pointment, by  the  General  Assembly,  for  a  public  collection  for 
that  important  institution.  This  shows  his  strong  missionary 
spirit. 

On  returning  to  London,  he  says,  "  Good  Lady  Huntingdon 
is  come  to  town,  and  I  am  to  preach  at  her  ladyship's  house 
twice  a  week  to  the  rich  and  noble."  About  thirty  had  desired 
to  come,  and  many  more  were  expected.  From  thirty  to  sixty 
attended.     There  were  a  few  converts  among  them. 

Feeling  the  importance  of  having  a  literary  institution  at 
Bethesda,  with  his  health  much  improved,  early  in  December, 
1748,  he  wrote  the  Georgia  Trustees,  asking  permission  to 
connect  an  academy  with  the  Orphan  House.  As  ;^5000  had 
been  expended  on  it,  he  begged  them  to  relieve  it  from  all 
rent  and  taxes,  and  allow  him  the  use  of  colored  labor  on  the 
farm.  "White  hands,"  he  said,  "had  left  his  land  unculti- 
vated." 

After  a  short  excursion  to  Gloucester  and  Bristol,  he  re- 
turned to  winter  quarters,  and  spent  most  of  the  winter  in 
London,  without  anything  remarkable  occurring.  He  still 
preached  twice  a  week  to  the  nobility  at  Lady  Huntingdon's, 
with  very  encouraging  prospects.  Early  in  February,  1749. 
we  find  him  in  the  midst  of  "a  great  stirring  among  the  dry 
bones  at  Bristol  and  Kingswood."  "The  power  of  the  Lord 
attended  the  Word  as  in  days  of  old."     Many  were  hopefully 


262  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

converted.  "A  lawyer  came  once,  and  was  so  affected  that 
when  he  got  home  he  invited  others  to  come,  which  so 
alarmed  his  wife  that  she  is  afraid  he  will  go  mad." 

"  Longing  for  the  fields,"  Mr.  Whitefield  now  made  an 
excursion  to  the  West.  When  he  reached  Kingsgate  at  8 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  he  found  looo  people  waiting  to  hear  him.  He 
preached  m  the  street  by  moonlight,  with  much  power,  and 
was  pleased  to  find  that  many  souls  had'  been  awakened  here 
under  his  preaching  about  five  years  ago.  Espying  one  up  in 
a  tree  to  hear  and  mock,  he  exclaimed  to  him,  "  Come  down, 
Zaccheus,  come  down,  and  receive  the  Lord  Jesus."  The 
Word  was  backed  with  power.  "  He  heard,  came  down,  be- 
lieved, and  now  adorns  the  Gospel." 

At  Plymouth  "he  was  received  with  great  joy."  Many 
went  ten  miles  out  of  town  to  meet  him.  Here,  where  he 
formerly  had  so  many  enemies,  he  was  now  welcomed  to 
preach  in  the  new  Tabernacle.  With  many  new  converts,  he 
says,  "Plymouth  seems  like  a  new  place."  Whitefield's  un- 
equaled  power  in  darting  the  gospel  into  the  sinner's  heart,  is 
seen  in  the  following  fact : 

Fixing  his  eye  on  Shuter,  the  tragedian,  (z.  e.,  Rambler), 
one  morning  at  Tottenham  Court,  while  inviting  sinners  of 
all  classes  to  come  to  Jesus,  Whitefield  said  with  great  em- 
phasis, "And  thou,  poor  Rambler,  who  hast  long  rambled 
from  Him,  come  thou  also.  Oh,  end  thy  rambling,  and  come 
to  Jesus."  Shuter  was  exceedingly  struck,  and  coming  to 
Whitefield,  said,  "  I  thought  I  should  have  fainted ;  how  could 
you  serve  me  so  ?" 

Coming  over  into  Devonshire,  he  met  with  much  opposi- 
tion, and  "was  rudely  treated."  "While  I  was  praying  at 
Tavistock,  some  of  the   baser  sort  brought  a  bull  and  dogs 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  263 

and  disturbed   us  much."     But  "he  managed,  however,"  says 
Dr.  Phihp,  "  to  preach  down  the  uproar." 

BREAKING    HEADS    AND    HEARTS, 

At  Exeter,  also,  a  man  came  prepared  to  knock  him  on  the 
head  with  a  stone,  whenever  the  sermon  should  furnish  an 
offensive  expression.  He  stood  with  the  stone  in  his  hand. 
He  could  find  no  fault.  The  sermon  soon  interested  him  so 
that  the  stone  dropped  from  his  hand.  Then  his  heart  melted. 
After  the  service  he  went  to  Whitefield,  and  said  with  tears, 
"Sir,  I  came  to  break  your  head;  but  God  has  given  me  dC 
broken  heart."  After  a  circuit  of  six  hundred  miles,  he 
returned  to  London  with  fear  and  trembling  lest  his  health 
would  fail  and  render  him  unable  to  speak  to  the  noble  so  as 
to  win  them  to  the  Saviour.  But  throwing  himself  blindfold 
into  his  Master's  hands,  his  fear  soon  left  him. 

Having  answered  the  Bishop  of  Exeter's  "virulent  pamphlet" 
entitled  "  The  enthusiasm  of  the  Methodists  and  Papists  com- 
pared," which  created  considerable  stir ;  and  having  thanked 
his  enemies  for  telling  him  of  his  mistakes,  and  being  tired  of 
so  much  public  applause,  he  again  renounces  any  idea  of  form- 
ing a  new  denomination.  He  says,  "  I  do  not  want  to  make  a  '' 
sect,  or  set  myself  at  the  head  of  a  party.  No,  let  the  name  of 
Whitefield  die,  so  that  the  cause  of  .Christ  may  live.  I  have 
seen  enough  of  popularity  to  be  sick  of  it,  and  did  not  the 
interests  of  my  blessed  Master  require,  my  appearing  in  public, 
the  world  should  hear  but  little  of  me  henceforward."  Again 
he  says,  "  I  have  no  party  to  be  at  the  head  of,  and  through  '^ 
God's  grace,  I  will  have  none."  With  his  Christ-like  unself- 
ishness, he  says,  "  I  think  it  my  highest  privilege  to  be  an 
assistant  to  all,  but  the  head  of  none."  For  "  I  find  a  love  of 
power  sometimes  intoxicates  even   God's  own  dear  children, 


264  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

and  makes  them  to  mistake  passion  and  zeal,  and  an  overbear- 
ing spirit  for  an  authority  given  them  from  above.  For  my 
own  part,  I  find  it  much  easier  to  obey  than  govern,  and  that 
it  is  much  safer  to  be  trodden  under  foot  than  to  have  it  in 
one's  power  to  serve  others  so.  Lord  Jesus,  when  thou  seest 
me  in  danger  of  tiestling,  in  pity,  tenderest  pity,  put  a  thorn  in 
my  nest  to  prevent  me  from  it." 

Resuming  "  ranging"  again,  we  find  him  early  in  May,  1749, 
preaching  to  many  thousands  in  Portsmouth.  Most  listened 
very  attentively.  Some  mocked  ;  but  he  preached  with  such 
great  power  "that  the  chief  opposer  was  conquered,  and 
received  him  into  his  house  with  tears  of  shame  and  joy."  The 
effect  was  so  deep  that  he  reported  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  "that 
Poj^tsmouth  is  taken!'  With  many  open  fields  of  usefulness 
before  him  now,  he  says,  "  I  am  in  a  strait,  and  continually 
praying.  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  I  would  be  as 
clay  in  His  hands,  ready  to  go  whither  He  is  pleased  to  call 
me." 

W^HITEFIELD    IN    WALES, 

Mr.  Whitefield  now  made  another  tour  into  Wales.  Put- 
ting up  at  his  wife's  house  at  Abergavenny,  he  spent  two  days 
in  sweet  retirement.  "  It  has  been  so  sweet,  that  I  should  be 
glad  never  to  be  heard  of  again."  "  But  this  must  not  be.  A 
necessity  is  laid  upon  me,  and  woe  is  me  if  I  do  not  preach  the 
Gospel."  Firing  up  for  his  Welsh  tour,  and  dwelling  much  on 
God's  mercies,  he  said,  "  I  am  lost  in  wonder,  and  want  a  thou- 
sand lives  to  spend  in  the  Redeemer's  service."  His  anxiety  for 
his  friends'  salvation  made  him  sick.  Warmed  with  the  Welsh 
fire,  he  now  preached  with  such  great  power  and  to  such  vast 
congregations,  that  he  soon  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  "  Jesus 
riding  on  in  the  chariot  of  the  everlasting  gospel."     (Philip.) 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  265 

The  field  was  so  great,  and  the  harvest  so  white,  and  his 
ascendency  so  complete  in  Wales,  that  "  not  a  dog  stirred  his 
tongue"  during  his  circuit  of  eight  hundred  miles.  Sometimes 
his  congregations  numbered  near  20,000.  He  visited  eight 
counties,  and  preached  to  over  100,000  people.  The  tour  was 
so  laborious  that  it  brought  him  almost  to  the  grave. 

After  returning  to  London  to  welcome  his  wife  from  Ber- 
mudas, be  made  another  tour  in  the  west  of  England,  and 
preached  with  great  power  to  vast  congregations.  Having 
heard  that  his  character  had  been  aspersed  by  a  Bermuda  min- 
ister, he  replied,  "I  am  content  to  wait  till  the  day  of  judgment 
for  the  clearing  up  of  my  character ;  and  after  I  am  dead,  I 
desire  no  other  epitaph  than  this,  '  Here  lies  George  White- 
field — what  sort  of  a  man  he  was,  the  great  day  will  discover.'" 
Disappointed  in  not  seeing  two  friends  at  Gloucester,  he 
charged  the  disappointment  to  Providence,  and  said,  "  This 
comforts  me,  IV/ur^  is,  is  best!"  Before  reaching  Exeter, 
Whitefield  saw  the  Bishop's  second  pamphlet.  But  it  was  so 
virulent  and  unchristian  that  he  refused  to  answer  it,  and 
said,  "  O  what  a  happy  thing  it  is  to  be  despised  for  the  sake 
of  Jesus  !  When  John  Huss  was  burnt,  the  Bishop  of  Con- 
stance painted  devils  upon  paper,  and  put  them  round  his  head  ; 
how  soon  were  they  exchanged  for  a  crown  of  glory  !"  While 
preaching  one  evening  in  Exeter,  the  bishop  and  several  of  the 
clergy  stood  near  him  and  saw  10,000  hearers  struck  with  awe 
by  his  touching  appeals.  The  impression  was  very  deep  ;  but 
during  the  service  he  says,  "  a  drunken  man  threw  three  big 
stones  at  me.  One  of  them  cut  my  head  deeply,  and  was  like 
to  knock  me  off  the  table;  but  blessed  be  God,  I  was  not  dis- 
composed at  all.  One  stone  struck  a  poor  man  and  knocked 
him  down.  Everywhere  the  work  is  on  the  spread ;  and  since 
I  have  been  here,  we  have  had  some  of  the  most  awful,  solemn 


266  LIFE    QF    WHITEFIELD. 

and  powerful  meetings,  that  I  ever  saw  at  the  Tabernacle." 
Early  in  September,  1749,  he  returned  to  London  again,  and 
made  another  "  ranging"  tour  to  Yorkshire,  and  preached  at 
Andle,  Abberford,  Haworth,  Leeds  and  Newcastle.  At  Leeds, 
with  a  congregation  of  10,000,  "they  had  a  great  day  for  the 
Son  of  man."  Here  he  preached  in  the  Methodist  churches. 
At  Newcastle  he  was  so  well  pleased  to  be  introduced  into  the 
Methodist  pulpit  by  his  old  friend,  Charles  Wesley,  that  he 
preached  four  times  for  them.  "  Every  day  the  people  flocked 
like  doves  to  their  windows  to  hear  the  gospel."  Praying  that 
God  would  give  him  "  a  pilgrim  heart  for  his  pilgrim  life,"  he 
says,  "  Surely  this  is  a  work  that  brings  with  it  its  own  reward. 
It  brings  a  *heaven  into  the  soul,  and  causes  it,  amidst  all  the 
scoffs  and  tauntings  of  a  benighted,  ridiculing  world,  to  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

Worn  out  with  his  herculean  labors,  and  enfeebled  by  dis- 
ease, he  says,  "  I  wonder  my  poor  tabernacle  is  not  dissolved 
every  day ;  but  we  are  immortal  till  our  work  is  done.  Christ's 
laborers  must  live  by  miracle;  if  not,  I  must  notlive  at  all; 
,^,for  God  only  knows  what  I  daily  endure.  My  continual  vom- 
itings almost  kill  me,  and  yet  the  pulpit  is  my  cure,  so  that  my 
friends  begin  to  pity  me  less,  and  to  leave  off  that  ungrateful 
c?i\x'i\o\\/ Spare  tliyself!'''  Yet  upon  reviewing  the  labors  of 
another  year,  he  says,  "  the  thought  of  how  little  I  have  done 
for  Jesus  sometimes  almost  breaks  my  heart.  O  that  my 
head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I 
might  bewail  my  barrenness  and  unfruitfulness  in  the  Church 
of  God.  O  for  a  disinterested  spirit !  O  to  be  willing  to  bo 
poor,  that  others  may  be  rich  !  O  to  be  nothing,  that  Jesus 
may  be  all !" 

Late  in  November  he  went   into  "  winter  quarters"  at  Lon- 
don, and  set  up  preaching  regularly  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  267 

ing  with  large  congregations.  Although  in  winter  quarters, 
he  ceased  not  to  fight  the  battles  of  the  Lord.  Laboring  with 
great  success,  he  says,  "The  glory  of  the  Lord  fills  the  Taber- 
nacle, and  the  shout  of  a  king  is  heard  in  our  camp."  Awak- 
enings were  numerous.  Still  longing  for  "  his  dear  America," 
we  now  find  him  pleading  again  for  an  academy  at  Bethcsda. 
He  says,  "  the  house  is  large,  and  will  hold  one  hundred.  My 
heart,  I  trust,  is  larger,  and  will  hold  one  thousand."  Having 
enjoyed  "a  blessed  Christmas  and  New-year,"  (1750,)  to 
encourage  a  tried  brother  he  said,  "  The  more  successful  you 
are,  the  more  hated  you  will  be  by  Satan,  and  the  more 
despised  by  the  world.  But  O,  my  dear  sir,  to  me  at  first  it 
was  death  to  be  despised,  and  worse  than  death  to  be  laughed 
at  by  all.  But  when  I  began  to  consider  Him  who  endured 
the  cross,  I  then  longed  to  drink  of  the  same  cup  ;  and  blessed 
be  God,  contempt  and  I  are  pretty  intimate,  and  have  been  for 
twice  seven  years.  God  knows  how  to  train  us  up  for  the 
war.  He  often  makes  me  bold  as  a  lion  ;  but  I  believe  there 
is  not  a  person  living  more  timorous  by  nature.  O  let  us  fol- 
low Jesus,  though  it  be  through  a  sea  of  blood.  He  is  the 
believer's  hollow  square ;  and  if  we  keep  close  in  that,  we  are 
impregnable. 

When  so  busy  that  he  "  scarce  had  time  to  eat,  with  his  field 
of  usefulness  opening  wider  and  wider,"  he  says,  "  I  want  more 
tongues,  more  bodies,  more  souls  for  the  Lord  Jesus.  Had  I 
ten  thousand.  He  should  have  them  all."  He  had  just  enjoyed 
a  most  precious  season  at  Plymouth,  where  he  preached 
several  days  with  great  power.  And  while  preaching  at  Bid- 
deford,  "  the  power  of  God  so  came  down  that  one  of  the  min- 
isters could  scarce  stand  under  it."  In  writing  to  Governor 
Belcher  about  this  time,  he  says,  "  The  harvest  in   England  is 


268  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

exceedingly  great."     "  We  have  had   most  dehghtful  seasons 
in  London." 

HIS    EARTHQUAKE   SERMON, 

London,  about  this  time,  received  a  terrible  shock  by  an 
earthquake.  With  the  whole  city  rocked  to  and  fro,  the  alarm 
was  awful.  Terrified  with  the  awful  forebodings,  multitudes  of 
the  inhabitants  fled  from  the  city.  Others  rushed  to  Tower 
Hill,  Moorfields  and  Hyde  Park,  where  they  remained  all  night 
frantic  with  fear.  Places  of  public  worship  were  thronged  with 
frightened  sinners,  especially  the  Methodist  chapels,  where 
thousands  came  all  night,  begging  admission  for  God's  sake ; 
while  thousands  of  others  ran  about  the  streets  filled  with  con- 
sternation, fully  persuaded  that  the  Day  of  Judgment  had  come. 
Ministers .  preached  almost  incessantly  with  great  success. 
Under  these  appalling  circumstances,  Whitefield  ventured  out 
at  midnight  to  Hyde  Park,  and  proclaimed  to  the  affrighted 
multitudes  the  way  of  life.  "  The  darkness  of  the  night  and 
the  awful  terrors  of  an  approaching  earthquake  added  much  to 
the  solemnity  of  the  scene."  With  the  earth  rocking,  the 
rumbling  noise  roaring,  and  the  people  wailing,  the  scene  was 
terrible  beyond  description.  Wrought  up  by  the  importance, 
awfulness,  grandeur  and  glory  of  the  occasion,  with  his  mighty 
genius  and  vivid  imagination,  his  sermon  was' truly  grand  and 
sublime.  Discoursing  upon  the  terrible  realities  of  the  final 
Judgment  (as  many  believed  it  had  come),  "to  the  ungodly 
sinner,  the  self-righteous  Pharisee  and  the  artful  hypocrite,  it 
was  terribly  striking."  To  see  Whitefield  describe  the  sound- 
ing of  the  last  trumpet,  the  coming  of  Christ,  the  rising  of  the 
dead,  the  setting  of  the  Judgment,  and  the  terrible  finalities 
of  that  awful  day — to  hear  him  pronounce  the  final  sentence, 
"Come,  ye  blessed,"  and  "Depart,  ye  cursed,"  and  then  describe 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND.     269 

the  wicked  going  down  to  hell,  and  the  righteous  going  home 
to  heaven,  together  with  the  final  consummation  of  all  things, 
was  enough  to  awaken  the  most  careless. 

On  returning  from  Portsmouth^  "  where  the  Word  seemed 
to  strike  like  a  pointed  arrow,"  and  finding  Lady  Huntingdon 
sick,  Whitefield  started,  May  i,  1750,  to  Ashley,  to  see  her. 
On  his  way  there  he  had  a  very  pleasant  interview  with  Dr. 
Doddridge  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hervey  at  Northampton.  On  Tuesday 
morning  Whitefield  preached  to  the  doctor's  family,  and  in  the 
afternoon  to  over  2000  in  the  fields.  His  principal  object  in 
visiting  Dr.  Doddridge  and  Mr.  Hervey,  was  to  secure  a  public 
/  subscription  for  New  Jersey  College.  The  doctor  entered 
heartily  into  the  plan,  and  did  much  to  advance  the  work. 
Whitefield  preached  several  sermons  in  its  behalf,  and  large 
collections  were  raised  for  it  both  in  England  and  Scotland. 

Mr.  Hervey  says  of  this  interview,  "  I  have  seen,  lately,  that 
most  excellent  minister  of  the  ever-blessed  ^esus,  Mr.  White- 
field.  I  dined,  supped,  and  spent  the  evening  with  him  at 
Northampton,  in  company  with  Dr.  Doddridge  and  two  piOus, 
ingenious  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England,  both  of  them 
known  to  the  learned  world  by  their  valuable  writings.  And 
surely  I  never  spent  a  more  delightful  evening,  or  saw  one 
that  seemed  to  make  nearer  approaches  to  the  felicity  of 
heaven.  A  gentleman  of  great  worth  and  rank  in  the  town, 
invited  us  to  his  house,  and  gave  us  an  elegant  treat ;  but 
how  mean  was  his  provision,  how  coarse  his  delicacies,  com- 
pared with  the  fruit  of  my  friend's  lips ;  they  dropped  as  the 
honey-comb,  and  were  a  well  of  life.  Surely,  people  do  not 
know  that  amiable  and  exemplary  man,  or  else,  I  cannot  but 
think,  instead  of  depreciating,  they  would  applaud  and  love 
him.  For  my  part,  I  never  beheld  so  fair  a  copy  of  our  Lord, 
such  a  living   image  of  the   Saviour,  such   exalted   delight  in 


2/0  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

God,  such  enlarged  benevolence  to  man,  such  a  steady  faith 
in  the  divine  promises,  and  such  a  fervent  zeal  for  the  divine 
glory ;  and  all  this  without  the  least  moroseness  of  humor,  or 
extravagances  of  behavior;  sweetened  with  the  most  engaging 
cheerfulness  of  temper,  and  regulated  by  all  the  sobriety  of 
reason  and  wisdom  of  scripture ;  in  so  much,  that  I  carmot 
forbear  applying  the  wise  man's  encomium  of  an  illustrious 
woman,  to  this  eminent  minister  of  the  everlasting  gospel : 
Many  sons  have  done  virtuously,  but  thou  cxcellest  them  all." 

On  reaching  Ashley,  Mr.  Whitefield  found  Lady  Hunting- 
don better  than  he  expected.  He  preached  at  her  house 
daily.  A  riot  gathered  before  her  door  while  he  was  preach- 
ing. In  going  home  some  narrowly  escaped  being  mur- 
dered. After  leaving  Ashley  he  preached  to  many  thou- 
sands at  Milburn  with  much  power. 

Mr.  Whitefield  now  wrote  very  frequently  to  the  nobility. 
To  the  afflicted  Countess  D ,  he  says,  "Sanctified  afflic- 
tions are  signs  of  God's  special  love.  Love  holds  the  rod, 
love  strikes,  love  wounds,  and  love  heals  again."  Again  he 
says,  "  I  cannot  travel  far  without  sitting  down  to  refresh  my 
soul  by  writing  to  Lady  Huntingdon." 

Winding  his  way  to  Scotland  through  the  north  of  Eng- 
land, he  preached  to  very  large  congregations,  with  great 
power  and  success  at  Mansfield,  Nottingliam,  Rothe;-ham, 
Sheffield  and  Manchester.  At  Bolton  he  was  disturbed  by 
a  drunkard,  but  "  the  Lord  got  tlimself  the  victory."  "  Since 
that  we  have  had  very  large  and  powerful  meetings  where 
formerly  were  the  most  violent  outrages."  Here  some  one 
got  into  the  stable  and  cut  his  chaise  and  his  horse's  tail. 
This  he  called  "Satan  showing  his  teeth."  Passing  over  into 
Kendal,  he  says,  "Pen  cannot  well  describe  what  glorious 
scenes  have  opened  in  Yorkshire."     With  the  church  nearly 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  2/ 1 

thrice  filled  with  communicants  at  Howarth,  and  with  large 
congregations  thirsting  for  the  gospel,  he  said  "  a  most  prom- 
ising door  is  opened  at  Kindal." 

After  preaching  at  Ulverton,  Whitehaven  and  Cocker- 
mouth  he  struck  for  Scotland.  Speaking  generally  twice  a 
day,  he  preached  during  his  tour  from  London  to  Scotland 
about  ninety  times,  and  to  about  140,000  people.  He  says, 
"  Preaching  every  day  in  the  week,  is  the  best  preparation  for 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath."  "It  is  amazing  to  see  how  people 
are  prepared  in  places  where  I  never  was  before." 

Mr.  Whitefield  strongly  opposed  both  unconverted  and  un- 
educated men  preaching  the  gospel.  He  said  in  1750,  "It 
has  long  since  been  my  judgment,  that  it  would  be  best  for 
many  of  the  present  preachers  to  have  a  tutor,  and  retire  a 
while,  till  they  were  a  little  more  improved."  "To  have 
young  men  educated  at  the  Orphan  House,  and  then  turned 
out  into  the  Church  graceless  and  unconverted,  would  break 
my  heart."* 

WHITEFIELD    IN    SCOTLAND, 

Reaching  Edinburgh  July  6,  he  says,  "  I  was  received  in 
a.  most  loving  and  tender  manner."  He  immediately  com- 
menced preaching,  he  says,  "  to  great  multitudes  of  very  atten- 

*  Several  young  men  of  Yorkshire  once  met  to  mimic  Whitefield's  preaching. 
After  several  had  tried  it,  iVIr.  Thorpe  rose  to  close  the  irreverent  exercises. 
Confident  of  success,  he  boldly  mounted  the  stand  and  said,  "  I  wUl  beat  you 
all."  Grasping  the  Bible,  as  if  guided  by  an  unerring  Providence,  it  opened 
at  Luke  xiii.  3,  "  Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish."  The  Word 
proved  an  arrow  from  God's  quiver,  and  piercing  his  heart,  immediately  took  a 
very  deep  effect.  Feeling  at  once  that  /te  must  repent  or  perish,  he  retired  to  weep 
over  his  sms,  and  to  beg  God  for  mercy.  His  short  sermon  made  a  very  deep 
impression  on  his  audience,  and  resulted  in  his  own  conversion.  He  became  a 
very  successful  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 


2/2  LIFE   Ob-    VVHITEFIELD. 

tivc  and  affected  hearers.  The  people  flock  rather  more  than 
ever.  By  preaching  always  twice,  once  thrice,  and  once  four 
times  in  a  day,  I  am  quite  weakened,  but  I  hope  to  recruit 
again.  I  am  burning  with  a  fever,  and  have  a  violent  cold ; 
but  Christ's  presence  makes  me  S7m/c  at  pain,  and  the  fire  of 
love  burns  up  all  fevers  whatsoever."  At  Glasgow  he  was 
received  in  a  similar  manner,  and  preached  with  a  similar 
effort  to  "congregations  rather  larger  than  ever."  "There  was 
a  great  awakening  among  all  classes."  Longing  to  depart 
from  these  lofty  heights  of  glory,  he  says,  "the  thoughts  of 
death  gladden  my  heart,  and  cause  me  often  almost  to  leap 
with  joy." 

With  his  natural  sprightliness,  playful  humor  and  ready 
wit,  Whitefield's  conversation,  says  Dr.  Gillies,  "was  no  less 
reviving  than  his  sermons.  When  in  company  with  his  good 
friends,  Mr.  MacLaurin  and  others,  one  might  challenge  the 
sons  of  pleasure  with  all  their  wit,  good  humor  and  gayety  to 
furnish  entertainment  so  agreeable,  useful  and  edifying." 

HIS    RETURN    TO    ENGLAND. 

After  a  short  stay  and  an  affectionate  parting  in  Scotland, 
he  returned  to  London  early  in  September,  and  "was  received 
with  great  joy."  He  says,  "My  poor  labors  never  met  with 
greater  acceptance  in  England  and  Scotland  than  now."  Here 
he  was  visited  by  Rev.  Drs.  Gill,  Gifford,  the  Wesleys,  Ro- 
maine  and  Hervey.  After  preaching  several  times  in  Mr. 
Wesley's  chapel  in  London,  Me  says  in  October,  "  We  have  had 
very  pleasant  seasons  at  Portsmouth,  Chatham,  Gloucester, 
Birmingham,  Wednesbury,  Eversham  and  Nottingham."  And 
finding  a  brother  in  a  struggle  at  Canterbury,  where  "  Satan 
had  overshot  his  mark,"  he  said  to  him,  "Your  way  to  fight  is 
on  your  knees.     That  weapon,  all-prayer,  will  do  wonders." 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  2/3 

At  Ashby,  he  said  Lady  Huntingdon's  house  "was  indeed 
a  Bethel ;  we  have  the  Sacrament  every  morning,  heavenly 
conversation  all  day,  and  preaching  at  night."  Though 
severely  afflicted,  he  passed  out  of  the  old  into  the  new  year  of 
1 75 1,  with  many  awakenings  in  London,  and  longing  to  enter 
upon  his  spring  campaign.  He  was  so  low  at  one  time  that 
he  says,  "I  was  just  casting  anchor;  but  now  it  seems  I  must 
put  out  to  sea  again.  O,  that  it  may  be  to  direct  others  to  the 
haven  of  eternal  rest."  And  feeling,  as  he  said,  that  '^  the 
world  wants  more  Jieat  tJian  light"  and  fearing  that  he  would 
fall  back,  he  now  often  prayed,  "  Let  us  not  flag  in  the  latter 
stages  of  our  road."  "  Fain  would  I  burn  with  love  and  grati- 
tude like  a  seraph." 

Having  received  an  express  call  to  visit  Lady  Huntingdon, 
who  was  then  sick,  he  rode  post  haste  to  Ashby  to  see  her. 
He  found  her  better,  and  entreated  all  their  friends  to  pray  for 
her.  Her  sister-in-law,  Lady  F.  H.,  had  just  died  suddenly 
without  a  groan.  Whitefield  said,  "  May  my  exit  be  like  hers. 
To  me  it  is  worse  than  death  to  live  to  be  nursed  and  see 
friends  weep  about  me.     Sudden  death  is  sudden  glory." 

The  amount  of  labor  Whitefield  endured  was  wonderful. 
To  ride  hundreds  of  miles  on  horseback,  from  one  ei.d  of  the 
kingdom  to  the  other,  resting  a  day  or  two,  and  then  starting 
off  again  on  a  new  tour  in  another  direction,  was  with  him  an 
ordinary  occurrence.  For  instance,  in  August  he  is  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  on  the  4th  of  September  at  Portsmouth. 

Accustomed  to  the  institution  of  slavery  in  England  and  ^ 

the  American  colonies,  and   convinced   of  the   advantages  of 

slave-labor    in    cultivating   his    Orphan    House  farm    and  the 

colony  of  Georgia,  he  says,  "  As  for  the  lawfulness  of  keeping 

slaves,  I  have  no  doubt,  since  I  hear  of  some  that  were  bought    \ 

with  Abraham's  money  and  some  that  were  born  in  his  house. 
18 


274  LIFE   OF  WHITEFIELD. 

And  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  some  of  those  servants  men- 
tioned by  the  Apostles  in  the  Epistles,  were  or  had  been 
slaves."  (Letter  887.)  He  fully  believed  that  Georgia 
suffered  much  for  the  want  of  negro  labor. 

Commencing  another  spring  campaign  early  in  March,  he 
visited  Bristol,  Gloucester  and  Exeter,  and  says,  "  the  work 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  increases  daily."  He  preached 
about  forty  times  in  about  forty  days,  with  many  sweet  seasons 
of  refreshing.  Leaving  Exeter,  he  now  passed  over  into 
Wales,  and  rode  about  five  hundred  miles  in  about  three 
weeks,  and  preached  twice  a  day  with  great  power  to  very 
large  congregations. 

IRELAND, 

Still  ranging  •  for  souls,  after  a  voyage  of  five  days,  he 
reached  Dublin  May  24,  1751,  and  "was  surprised  at  the  great- 
ness and  hurry  of  the  place."  Here  he  preached  twice  a  day 
with  great  success  to  very  large  congregations.  On  the  Sab- 
bath he  had  about  10,000  hearers.  "They  hear  as  for  eter- 
nity." Though  feeble  in  health,  he  soon  set  out  for  an- 
other circuit,  and  at  Athlone,  he  says,  "Everywhere  there 
seems  to  be  a  stirring  among  the  dry  bones."  Dublin  and 
Limerick  were  deeply  stirred.  At  Cork,  where  there  had 
recently  been  such  great  riots,  he  preached  several  times  to 
vast  congregations  with  all  quietness.  "When  I  left,"  he 
said,  "thousands  prayed  for  me,  and  many  of  the  papists  said 
if  I  would  stay  they  would  leave  their  priests."  A  Dublin 
gentleman  to  whom  Mr.  Whitefield  had  been  grossly  misrep- 
resented says,  "  What  blessed  seasons  have  we  had  since  Mr. 
Whitefield  came ;  his  coming  has  been  unspeakably  blest  to 
many ;  thousands  attend  constantly.  I  never  heard  a  man 
preach  holiness  of  heart  in  a  clearer  manner.     He  powerfully 


FURTHER    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  2/5 

preaches  Christ  for  us  and  m  us.  God  be  praised  that  I  ever 
saw  his  face." 

He  reached  Belfast  July  4th,  and  snatched  a  few  mo- 
ments to  answer  Mr.  Tennent's  letter.  He  intended  to  embark 
at  once  for  Scotland,  but  pressed  by  the  people,  he  staid  and 
gave  them  two  more  sermons.  "  Thousands  gathered  to  hear 
him  in  an  hour's  time." 

Having  preached  about  eighty  times  in  Ireland,  he  re- 
turned to  Glasgow,  and  says,  "  Scotland  seems  like  a  new 
world  to  mc.  To  see  the  people  bring  so  many  Bibles,  turn 
to  every  passage,  when  I  am  expounding,  and  hang  as  it 
were  upon  me  to  hear  every  word,  is  very  encouraging.  I  feel 
uncommon  freedom  of  heart  here." 

Passing  down  to  Edinburgh,  he  speaks  of  "the  great 
awakening"  at  Hanover,  Virginia,  brought  about  by  reading 
his  sermons  there  years  ago  ;  where  one  congregation,  he  says, 
"had  now  increased  to  seven."  Being  scarce  of  funds,  he 
said,  "  God  will  keep  me  dependent.  Having  nothing,  yet 
possessing  all  things,  must  be  my  motto  still."  "  Matters  in 
Scotland  go  on  better  and  better.  The  parting  at  Glasgow  was 
very  sorrowful  indeed.  For  nearly  twenty-eight  days  together, 
in  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh,  he  preached  to  near  10,000  souls 
every  day."  Dr.  Gillies  says  there  was  something  exceed- 
ingly striking  in  the  solemnity  of  the  congregations.  "The 
whole  multitude  stood  fixed,  and  like  one  man,  hung  upon 
his  lips  with  silent  attention."  Thus  wrought  up  by  the  in- 
spiration of  the  occasion,  with  all  bathed  in  tears,  their  part- 
ing was  peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive.  He  says,  "  I  have 
been  dying  daily  for  some  time  in  taking  leave  of  friends. 
Surely  these  parting  seasons  have  broken  my  very  heart." 
"But  it  is  all  for  Jesus,  and  therefore  all  is  well," 


CHAPTER     XXVII. 


HIi,5    FOURTH    VISIT    TO   AMERICA RETURN- 
IN    GREAT    BRITAIN. 


-FURTHER    LABORS 


FTER  a  weeping  farewell  at  Edinburgh,  he 
returned  to  England,  and  embarked  for  Amer- 
ica Late  in  August,  175 1.  Ele  sailed  in  the 
Antelope,  Capt.  MacLellan,  and  after  a  speedy 
voyage  reached  Savannah,  Ga.,  October  27, 
1 75 1,  and  "found  the  Orphan  House  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  Thanks  be  to  God,  all 
is  well  at  Bethesda."  Still  on  the  stretch  for 
God,  and  conscious  of  the  little  he  had  done  for  Him,  he  said, 
January  25,  1752,  at  Bethesda,  "I  now  intend  to  begin ;  for  as 
yet,  alas,  I  have  done  nothing  for  Christ.  O,  that  I  may  begin 
to  be  in  earnest!"  Whitefield's  short  visit  to  America  at  this 
time  seems  to  have  been  mainly  to  establish  a  theological  school 
at  Bethesda,  and  in  placing  the  government  of  the  colony  of 
Georgia  upon  a  new  footing.  Desiring  now  "  to  carry  all  his 
strength  to  the  Orphan  House,  he  now  hoped  a  good  founda- 
tion was  laid  for  a  useful  seminary." 

With  the  Orphan  House  affairs  settled,  and  dreading,  in  his 
feeble  health,  the  heat  of  an  American  summer,  late  in  April, 
1752,  he  sailed  for  England  on  board  the  Henry.  He  reached 
London  in  about  five  weeks,  and  "was  received  with  great  affec- 
tion." Upon  reviewing  the  field,  he  says,  "  I  never  saw  the 
work   go  on   more  promising."      Mrs.  Whitefield   came  from 

Scotland  to  see  him. 

(276) 


HIS    FOURTH    VISIT   TO    AMERICA.  2// 

As  the  government  of  the  colony  of  Georgia  now  passed 
from  the  trustees  to  the  king  of  England,  Whitefield  was  very 
much  encouraged  with  the  prospects  of  his  proposed  theolog- 
ical school  at  Bethesda.  He  was  very  anxious  to  have  men 
trained  there  to  preach  the  gospel. 

After  preaching  several  times  with  great  power  to  vast  con- 
gregations at  Bristol,  he  again  passed  over  into  Wales,  where 
"old  times  seemed  to  be  revived  again."  He  preached  in  the 
rain,  but  he  says,  "but  few  moved.  I  got  wet,  and  contracted  a 
cold  and  hoarseness ;  but  I  trust  that  preaching  will  cure  me 
again.  This  is  my  grand  catholicon.  O  that  I  may  drop  and 
die  in  my  blessed  Master's  work ! " 

Having  traveled  over  300  miles,  and  preached  about  twenty 
times  on  his  Welsh  circuit,  he  returned  to  England,  and  found 
the  congregations  at  Haverford-west  unusually  large.  At 
Gloucester  he  attended  a  very  refreshing  association.  Thence 
he  went  to  Bristol,  where  he  preached  to  vast  crowds  at  the 
Annual  Fair, 

In  his  lette?  to  Benjamin  Franklin  he  says,  "  I  find  that 
you  grow  more  and  more  famous  in  the  learned  world  As 
you  have  made  a  pretty  considerable  progress  in  the  mysteries 
of  electricity,  I  would  now  humbly  recommend  to  your  dili- 
gent unprejudiced  pursuit  and  study  the  mystery  of  the  new 
birtli.  It  is  a  most  important,  interesting  study,  and  when 
mastered,  will  richly  answer  and  repay  you  for  all  your  pains. 
One  at  whose  bar  we  are  shortly  to  appear,  hath  solemnly  de- 
clared, that  without  it,  'we  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.'  You  will  excuse  this  freedom,  I  must  have  aliquid 
Christi  (something  about  Christ)  in  all  my  letters." 

SCOTLAND. 

Mr.  Whitefield  now  took  another  tour  to  Scotland.  In 
going   there   he    preached  twice  at   Lutterworth,   the  famous 


278  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

John  Wyckliffe's  parish,  and  at  Liecester,  where  they  threw 
turnips  at  him  the  first  sermon,  but  where  all  was  hushed  the 
second.  "At  Newcastle  he  was  as  it  were  arrested  to  stay. 
He  staid,  and  preached  four  times  more  with  most  precious 
results."  He  reached  Edinburgh  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, and  immediately  commenced  preaching  twice  a  day 
to  great  multitudes.  Abundance  of  the  higher  classes,  and 
many  young  ministers  and  students,  attended  daily.  Several 
were  deeply  convicted.  At  Glasgow  the  effect  was  much  the 
same.  "  For  about  twenty-eight  days,"  he  says,  "  I  suppose 
I  did  not  preach  to  less  than  10,000  every  day." 

He  returned  to  England  about  the  first  of  November,  and 
was  so  happy,  he  says,  "Since  I  left  Newcastle  I  have  scarcely 
known  sometimes  whether  I  have  been  in  heaven,  or  upon 
earth."  "  Blessed  be  God,  I  find  Christ's  service  to  be  perfect 
freedoniy  And  with  his  burning  desire  to  preach  the  Gospel 
increasing,  he  exclaimed,  "O  that  I  had  as  many  tongues 
as  there  are  hairs  upon  my  head !  The  loving  Jesus 
should  have  them  all.  Fain  would  I  die  preaching." 
Overcome  with  joy  in  reaching  London,  he  said,  "  My  eyes 
gush  out  with  tears.  More  blessed  seasons  we  never  enjoyed. 
Our  sacramental  seasons  have  been  exceedingly  awful  and  re- 
freshing. The  glory  of  the  Lord  fills  the  Tabernacle.  We 
have  heaven  upon  earth."  "I  cannot  help  crying  out  night 
and  day,  grace!  grace!'' 

THE    NEW    TABERNACLE. 

With  "Dear  America  upon  my  heart,"  Whitefield  said, 
December  20,  1752,  "We  are  now  about  to  erect  a  new  taber- 
nacle eighty  feet  square,  which  I  fear  will  detain  me  in  Eng- 
land the  ensuing  summer."  He  laid  "the  first  brick,"  the  foun- 
dation of  it  "with  awful  solemnity,"  March  i,  1753,  with  an 
appropriate  sermon  from  Exodus  xx.  24.      "The  building  is 


HIS    FOURTH    VISJT    TO    .VM ERICA.  2/9 

to  be  eighty  feet  square.  It  stands  on  the  old  spot,"  in  Moor- 
"fields,  in  the  suburbs  of  London.  He  had  now  collected 
£i  lOO  for  its  erection.  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  at  its  dedi- 
cation, June  lo,  1753,  from  i  Kings  viii.  ii,  to  a  densely- 
crowded  house.  The  old  Tabernacle,  or  "temporary  shed," 
was  built  to  screen  the  congregations  from  cold  and  rain  in 
their  early  morning  meetings.  It  was  opened  June,  1741. 
The  new  one  was  built  around  it.  It  had  been  the  scene 
of  many  conversions  and  blessed  seasons. 

The  fields  were  now  so  white  and  ready  to  harvest  in 
Wales,  Scotland  and  the  7iorth  of  Etiglajtd,  he  said,  "  I  could 
sometimes  scarce  tell  whether  I  was  in  or  out  of  the  body." 
"  Longing  for  a  deeper  humility,  and  conscious  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  getting  it,  he  says,  "  Humility  must  be  taught  us,  as 
Gideon  taught  the  men  of  Succoth,  with  briers  and  thorns : 
these  will  frequently  fetch  blood  from  the  old  man.  O  that  we 
may  be  made  willing  to  have  him  bleed  to  death.  Away  with 
him,  away  with  him ;  crucify  him,  crucify  him."  Hence  he 
says,  "It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  supplanted,  despised, 
censured,  maligned  and  separated  from  my  dearest  friends.  By 
this  I  have  been  taught  to  ivrap  myself  in  Christ's  everlasting 
righteousness." 

Deeply  impressed  with  the  value  of  time,  and  the  awful 
realities  of  eternity,  he  said,  on  New  Year's  day,  1753,  "the 
very  mentioning  of  the  word  eternity  is  enough  to  make  one 
dead  to  the  world  and  alive  to  God.  Had  we  faith  but  as  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed,  how  should  we  trample  the  world,  the 
flesh,  the  devil,  death  and  hell  under  our  feet.  '  Lord,  increase 
our  faith ! ' " 

"  Where  reason  fails  with  all  its  powers, 
There  faith  prevails,  and  love  adores." 


280  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

His  "best"  New  Year's  gift  to  Lady  Huntingdon  was,  "I  wish 
you  much  of  Christ's  love  shed  abroad  in  your  heart."  "  My 
heart  is  full.  O  what  a  Christ  have  we !  God  help  us  to  love 
Him  more  and  serve  Him  better!   All  is  alive  at  the  tabernacle." 

While  the  Tabernacle  was  building,  Whitefield  continued 
his  excursions  around  about  London,  and  preached  frequently 
in  Mr.  Wesley's  chapels.  At  Norwich,  in  spite  of  all  opposi- 
tion, he  says,  "God  has  caused  us  to  triumph."  "Preaching  so 
frequently  and  riding  so  hard  almost  killed  me."  Within  a  little 
over  two  weeks  he  rode  350  miles,  and  preached  over  twenty 
times.  During  the  whole  circuit  he  "  rode  about  700  miles,  and 
preached  to  many  thousands.  Yet,"  he  says,  "no  one  receives 
so  much  and  does  so  little." 

Having  preached  a  few  days  in  his  tabernacle  at  London, 
late  in  June  he  set  out  for  Scotland.  After  precious  meetings 
at  Oulney  and  Northampton,  to  a  minister  complaining  of  his 
small  salary  (when  he  had  a  competency),  Whitefield  said,  "  Will 
you  never  give  up  your  whole  heart  to  God  ?  Was  this  done,  you 
would  count  the  work  of  the  ministry  its  oivn  zvages,  and  esteem 
the  reproach  of  Christ  above  all  the  riches  of  the  universe. 
The  pleasure  I  have  had  but  this  week,  in  preaching  the  gospel, 
I  would  not  part  with  for  a  thousand  worlds." 

"bitter  persecutors"  converted. 

Although  repeatedly  disturbed  whila  preaching  at  Roth- 
eram,  "two  bitter  persecutors"  were  converted  under  his  ser- 
mons there,  and  afterwards  "gladly  received  him  into  their 
house."  And  says  he,  "while  I  was  baptizing  a  child  there, 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  pleased  to  baptize  several  with  fire." 

At  Leeds  the  blessing  was  so  great,  he  says,  "  What  we 
saw,  and  felt,  and  heard,  cannot  well  be  expressed."  "Thou- 
sands attended  daily  "     On  Sabbath  he  preached  three  times, 


HIS    FOURTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  28 1 

and  to  near  twenty  thousand  at  once.  "  Many  came  to  me  that 
were  awakened  at  my  former  visit."  "At  Bunstall  and  Brad- 
ford, with  many  thousands  to  hear,  many  were  filled  as  with 
new  wine,  and,  as  for  myself,  I  scarce  knew  whether  I  was  in 
heaven  or  on  earth.  We  had  a  glorious  parting  blessing." 
The  prospect  all  around  is  so  glorious,  I  almost  repent  that  I 
have  engaged  to  go  to  Scotland."  And  when  he  got  there, 
July  2 1st,  he  said,  "I  have  left  a  people  full  of  fire,  but  here  I 
am  afraid  of  catching  cold."  There,  "thousands  and  thou- 
sands flocked  to  hear  the  glorious  gospel.  Awakenings  I  have 
heard  of  in  every  place ;  saints  have  been  revived,  and  heaven, 
as  it  were,  come  down  on  earth.  We  have  enjoyed  perpetual 
Cambuslang  seasons.  My  eyes  gush  out  with  tears  at  the  very 
thought  of  it.  Had  I  one  thousand  souls  and  bodies,  they 
should  all  be  itinerants  for  Jesus  Christ.  I  want  to  see  all  on 
a  flame  of  fire." 

Reaching  Edinburgh,  all  of  a  blaze,  he  says,  ''Let  me  now 
begin  to  preach  more  than  ever!'  At  Glasgow,  July  25,  1753, 
"  Yesterday  I  was  enabled  to  preach  five  times,  and  to  near 
twenty  thousand  the  last  time,  and  to  almost  as  many  in  the 
morning."  "The  people  are  more  fond  than  ever  to  hear." 
Though  earnestly  besought  to  stay  in  Scotland  another  week, 
he  leftthe  next  week  for  England.  "After  a  heart-breaking 
parting,"  he  says,  "with  great  difficulty"  I  got  away.  It  was 
almost  too  much  for  my  weak  body." 

His  return  by  the  same  road  was  a  continual  scene  of 
ecstatic  joy  and  triumphant  revival.  At  Leeds,  he  says,  "We 
have  been  in  the  suburbs  of  heaven."  "What  the  Saviour 
gave  us  to  see  and  feel  here  is  indeed  inexpressible."  At 
Stockport,  "the  blessing  was  almost  too  much  for  our  frail 
natures  to  bear."  At  the  Communion  at  Howarth,  he 
exclaimed,   "What   a   Sacrament!"     "The   parting  at    Leeds 


252  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

was  the  most  affecting  I  ever  saw."  To  one  society  one  hun- 
dred had  been  added.  On  reaching  London,  September  26, 
1753,  in  summing  up  this  three  months'  campaign,  he  says, 
"I  have  traveled  about  twelve  hundred  miles,  and  preached 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty  sermons.  A  more  successful 
campaign  I  never  saw :  parting  has  almost  killed  me."  Yet, 
from  these  lofty  heights  of  glory  and  success,  with  a  deep 
sense  of  his  own  unfruitfulness  and  imperfections,  Mr.  White- 
field  said,  soon  after,  "  My  doings  and  writings  appear  to  me  in 
so  mean  a  light  that  I  think  they  deserve  to  be  buried  in  eter- 
nal oblivion." 

^  "  Near  forty  years  old,  and  snc/i  a  dwarf !  I  am  ready  to 
sink  into  the  earth,  when  I  consider  how  little  I  can  do  for 
Jesus.  Let  none  of  my  friends  cry  to  such  a  sluggish  worm, 
'  Spare  thyself,  but,  rather,  spur  vie  on!' 

Fond  of  breaking  up  new  ground,  after  a  short  stay  at 
London,  with  his  insatiable  thirst  to  preach  the  gospel,  he  set 
out  upon  another  tour  to  Staffordshire.  This  was  a  new  field. 
On  it  he  preached  at  Oulney,  Oxen,  Bosworth,  Kettering  and 
Bedford,  in  one  week.  At  Gurnall,  a  whole  company  was 
awakened  by  reading  his  sermons.  Though  "Satan  roared,' 
notorious  drunkards  and  noted  rebels  were  powerfully  con- 
victed. At  Chester  and  Liverpool,  they  had  very  precious 
seasons.  Although  disturbed  by  mobs  at  Wrexham  and 
Nantwich,  at  Alperan  he  says,  "  We  had  another  heaven  upon 
earth."  "  By  thorns  and  briers  the  old  man  must  be  scratched 
to  death." 

Thus,  in  one  excursion  after  another,  he  went  on  "  ranging 
for  souls"  and  traveling  for  Christ.  After  "refreshing 
showers"  at  Gloucester,  his  native  place,  on  November  20th, 
he  went  down  and  opened  "  the  New  Tabertiacle  at  Bristol." 
"It  is  large,"  he  said,  "but  not  half  large  enough;  would  the 


HIS    FOURTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  283 

place  contain  them,  I  believe  near  as  many  more  would  attend 
as  in  London." 

Although  piercing  cold,  early  in  December  he  went  over 
and  preached  several  times  in  Somersetshire,  once  to  a  vast 
congregation  in  the  open  air.  With  his  soul  on  fire,  he  did  not 
mind  the  cold.     All  was  hushed  and  exceeding  solemn. 

On  December  3,  Whitefield  said.  "I  am  now  hasting  to 
London  to  pay  my  last  respects  to  my  dying  friend,  Mr.  John 
Wesley.  I  pity  the  Church,  I  pity  myself,  but  not  him.  A 
radiant  throne  awaits  him.  Yonder  stands  Jesus  with  a  massy 
crown,  ready  to  put  it  on  his  head  amidst  an  admiring  throng 
of  saints  and  angels." 

After  "a  lovely  close  of  the  summer's  campaign  in  Glou- 
cestershire," with  refreshing  seasons  in  London,  December  26, 
1753,  he  received  a  visit  from  Revs.  Gilbert  Tennent  and 
Samuel  Davies,  commissioners  from  America,  to  take  up  a 
general  collection  in  Scotland  for  the  Presbyterian  College  of 
New  Jersey.  He  gave  them  letters  of  recommendation,  and 
did  all  he  could  to  assist  them.  Touching  their  visit  with  Mr. 
Whitefield,  Rev.  Mr.  Davies  said,  "The  kind  reception  he  gave 
us  revived  Mr.  Tennent.  He  spoke  in  the  most  encouraging 
manner  as  to  the  success  of  our  mission,  and  in  all  his  con- 
versations discovered  so  much  zeal  and  candor,  that  I  could 
not  but  admire  the  man  as 

"the  wonder  of  the  age." 

"When  we  returned,  Mr.  Tennent's  heart  was  all  on  fire, 
and  after  we  had  gone  to  bed,  he  suggested  that  we  should 
watch  and  pray ;  and  we  arose  and  prayed  together  till  about 
3  o'clock  in  the  morning."  Mr.  Davies  was  afterwards  for 
several  years  president  of  this  college. 

Although  Mr.  Whit-efield  had  been  compelled  from  a  sense 


284  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

of  duty,  this  year,  he  says,  "with  a  bleeding  heart  to  draw 
the  pen  against  some  self-designing  Moravians,  who  had 
drawn  away  some  of  his  followers,"  yet  he  closed  the  year  in 
an  ecstasy,  "With  scores  under  deep  conviction"  at  London, 
he  says,  "God's  people  are  abundantly  blessed.  Last  night 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  Tabernacle.  The  blessing 
was  so  great  I  cannot  tell  you  half  I  am  lost,  I  am  lost  in 
wonder.     I  must  retire  to  give  vent  to  my  heart." 

Although  Whitefield  passed  out  of  the  old  year  in  a  halo 
of  glory,  yet  feeling  himself  to  be  "a  barren  fig  tree,"  he  en- 
tered upon  the  new  year  1754,  with  a  soul  panting  for  God. 
Although  he  says  "every  sermon  preached  this  winter  has 
been  brought  out  of  the  furnace  of  affliction,"  yet  still  long- 
ing for  more  holiness,  he  cries,  "  Welcome,  flux,  welcome,  fever, 
welcome,  the  plague  itself,  if  sanctified  to  bring  us  nearer 
to  God."  Like  Basil,  Whitefield  could  pray  Jesus  "  give  me 
any  cross,  that  may  bring  me  in  subjection  to  77zy  cross;  and 
save  me  in  spite  of  myself." 


CHAPTER     XXVIII. 


HIS    FIFTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA. 

AVING  gathered  up  twenty-two  poor  orphans 
for  Bethesda,  Mr.  Whitefield  sailed  for  Amer- 
ica, by  way  of  Lisbon,  March  7,  1754.  He 
reached  Lisbon,  March  16,  and  was  most 
kindly  received  and  entertained  by  a  reputable 
merchant.  The  climate  of  Portugal  agreed 
with  him  very  well.  The  sight  of  so  many 
crucifixes,  images  and  popish  processions,  to 
him  was  new,  striking  and  affecting.  By  invitation,  he  dined 
with  the  consul,  and  saw  something  every  day  to  make  him 
more  thankful.  And  when  he  saw  the  vain  pomp,  superstition 
and  gross  corruptions  of  popish  Portugal,  he  thanked  God 
that  he  had  been  born  in  England,  and  exclaimed,  "  O  happy 
England !  O,  my  dear  friends,  bless  the  Lord  of  all  lords 
for  casting  your  lots  in  such  a  fair  country  as  England."  Es- 
pecially was  he  moved  with  compassion  and  indignation  when 
he  saw  the  "awful  mock  crucifixion  of  the  Son  of  God"  in  a 
church,  and  a  crowd  of  near  two  hundred  "penitents"  in 
chains,  passing  along  the  streets  whipping  and  lashing  them- 
selves "with  cords  and  flat  bits  of  iron."  Attended  by  many 
thousands,  hushed  in  profound  silence,  these  "Lent"  cere- 
monies were  conducted  with  great  solemnity.  His  prayer  for 
this  deluded  people  was,  "Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  knov 
not  what  they  do."     These  strange  sights  taught  him  how  to 

prize    Protestant    liberty  and    Christian  simplicity  more  than 

( 28s ) 


286  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

ever.  "  Fain  would  I  be  one  of  Christ's  bees,  and  learn  to 
extract  honey  from  every  flower.  But,  alas !  I  am  a  drone, 
and  deserve  to  be  stung  out  of  God's  hive." — W. 

After  an  "  easy  passage "  of  six  weeks  from  Lisbon,  he 
reached  Beaufort,  South  Carolina,  May  27,  1754,  with  his 
orphan  charge  all  quite  well.  After  settling  them  in  Bethesda, 
his  family  numbered  106,  all  dependent  on  him  for  support. 
But  trusting  ki  the  Lord,  he  had  no  fears.  The  colony,  as  well 
as  Bethesda,  "was  now  in  a  thriving  condition."  Encouraged 
with  the  conversion  of  one  clergyman,  and  the  call  of  one 
Bethesda  student  to  Charleston,  he  now  rode  whole  nights  in 
spite  of  thunder,  lightning  and  heavy  rains. 

HIS    NORTHERN    TOUR. 

After  ranging  some  six  weeks  in  the  hot  "sunny  South," 
and  having  received  pressing  invitations  "to  cross-plough "  his 
old  ground,  and  to  water  where  he  had  planted,  late  in  July  he 
sailed  for  New  York.  He  reached  there  July  27,  and  imme- 
diately commenced  preaching  to  large,  attentive  congregations. 
Struck  with  the  great  changes  wrought,  he  said,  "it  is  time  for 
me  to  learn  to  be  surprised  at  nothing."  Enjoying  God's 
smiles,  he  says,  "  His  presence  keeps  me  company,  and  I  find 
it  sweet  to  run  about  for  Him."  At  Philadelphia  he  had  a 
severe  attack  of  cholera  morbus,  which  brought  him  nigh 
unto  death.  He  says,  "  I  had  all  my  cables  out,  ready  to  cast 
anchor  within  the  port  of  eternity,  but  was  soon   put  to  sea 

again,"  although  only  able  to  preach  but  once  a  day  for  some 
time. 

With  "a  glorious  range  in  the  American  woods,"  he  now 
preached  backwards  and  forwards  from  New  York  to  Philadel- 
phia for  near  two  months.  September  30th,  he  says,  "  Every- 
where a  divine  power  accompanies  the  Word,  prejudices  have 


HIS   FIFTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  28/ 

been  removed,  and  a  more  effectual  door  opened  than  ever  for 
preaching  the  everlasting  gospel."  He  had  just  now  enjoyed 
the  privilege  of  attending  the  annual  commencement  of  New 
Jersey  College,  at  Newark,  where  he  was  so  much  refreshed 
with  the  company  of  a  whole  synod  of  Presbyterian  ministers, 
that  it  almost  seemed  to  him  "like  heaven  upon  earth."  He 
preached  for  them  several  times,  and  says,  "  such  a  number  of 
simple-hearted,  united  ministers  I  never  saw  before."  The 
trustees  of  this  college  now  honored  him  with  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  He  said,  "I  was  exceedingly  delighted  with  the  com- 
mencement. Surely  this  college  is  of  God.  It  is  the  purest  sem- 
inary that  I  have  known."  After  enjoying  a  night  with  his  dear 
old  friend,  Governor  Belcher,  Mr.  Whitefield,  accompanied  by 
Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  the  distinguished  president  of  the  college,  set 
out  for  New  England,  He  reached  Boston  October  9th,  and 
found  "  the  people  more  eager  than  ever  to  hear  the  gospel." 
His  reception,  he  says,  "was  far  superior  to  that  of  fourteen 
years  ago."  With  souls  flocking  like  doves  to  the  windows,  he 
saith,  "  a  most  lovely  scene  hath  opened  in  Boston.  In  the 
morning  before  seven  o'clock,  though  the  churches  will  hold 
about  4000,  yet  many  were  obliged  to  go  away,  and  I  was 
helped  in  through  the  window."  And  with  like  scenes  in  the 
country  and  at  Portsmouth,  with  "enemies  silenced,"  and  the 
friends  of  Jesus  triumphing  gloriously,  "  the  prospect  was  most 
promising  indeed."  "  Convictions  fasten,  and  many  souls  are 
comforted.  The  polite  are  taken,  opposition  falls,  and  Jesus 
shows  forth  His  glory."  And  with  like  precious  seasons  when 
he  preached  at  Salem,  Ipswich,  Newburyport,  Rowley,  Byfield, 
Exeter,  etc.,  he  says,  "This  expedition  seems  to  be  the  most 
important  one  I  was  ever  employed  in."  Yet  he  says,  "not  a 
hundredth  part  can  be  told."  During  it  he  traveled,  in  five 
months,  near  2000  miles,  and  preached  about  230  times. 


288  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

While  at  Boston  he  learned  with  great  joy  that  a  governor 
had  been  appointed  for  Georgia,  and  that  his  old  friend,  Haber- 
sham, had  been  appointed  secretary. 

Leaving  Boston  November  7th,  he  passed  over  into  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  said,  "I  now  have  a  fourteen  hundred  miles 
ride  before  me."  But  having  Christ  for  his  leader  he  had  noth- 
ing to  fear,  and  soon  set  out  "to  preach  all  the  way  to  Georgia." 
But  of  this  "ride"  he,  nor  any  one  else,  gives  us  but  little 
account.  At  Bohemia,  Maryland,  December  27,  he  says,  "  I 
have  just  taken  leave  of  the  northern  provinces,"  where,  at  the 
close  of  this  glorious  campaign,  he  exclaimed,  "O  what  days 
of  the  Son  of  man  have  I  seen!" 

On  January  17,  1755,  we  find  him  in  Virginia,  on  the 
borders  of  North  Carolina,  with  the  rich  and  poor  flocking 
to  hear  him.  "Many,"  he  says,  "came  forty  or  fifty  miles, 
and  a  spirit  of  conviction  and  consolation  seemed  to  go 
through  all  the  assemblies."  "  Arrows  of  conviction  have  fled, 
and,  I  believe,  stuck  fast.  Seed  sown  several  years  ago  hath 
sprung  up  and  brought  forth  fruit,  and,  blessed  be  God,  I  see  a 
vast  alteration  for  the  better." 

He  was  welcomed  back  to  his  old  field  in  Hanover  county, 
Virginia.  While  here,  he  preached  in  Richmond  and  two 
other  neighboring  churches  with  a  very  deep  effect.  He  says, 
"  I  have  not  been  here  a  week,  and  have  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  many  impressed  under  the  Word  every  day."  "Preju- 
dices I  find  subsiding,  and  some  of  the  rich  and  great  are 
beginning  to  think  favorable  of  the  work  of  God."  Several  of 
the  lower  class  acknowledged  to  him  what  the  Lord  had  done 
for  them  when  he  was  here  before. 

Skipping  over  North  Carolina,  in  his  record.  Dr.  Gillies 
says  Whitefield  reached  Charleston  in  February.  After  vis- 
iting Savannah  and  Bethesda,  we    find  him,  March  3,  back 


HIS    FIFTH    VISIT   TO    AMERICA.  289 

again  to  Charleston,  where  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a 
Bethesda  student  ordained  to  preach  the  gospel  and  a  noted 
Charleston  sinner  hopefully  converted  to  God. 

Weary,  worn  and  afflicted,  he  now  says,  "My  soul  hath 
been  pierced  with  many  arrows."  "  But  amidst  everything  I 
am -comforted  with  the  present  situation  of  Bethesda.  Had  I 
wings  like  a  dove,  how  often  would  I  have  fled  to  it  since  my 
departure  from  it."  His  few  last  hours  there  were  among  the 
happiest  hours  of  his  life.  The  letters  he  received  from 
Bethesda,  when  at  Charleston,  he  says,  "made  me  weep,  and 
caused  me  to  throw  myself  prostrate  before  a  prayer-hearing 
and  promise-keeping  God."  To  sum  up  the  precious  results  of 
this  tour,  he  says,  "  Words  cannot  express  the  glorious  scenes 
that  have  opened  in  various  places,  especially  at  Boston." 
"The  tide  ran  full  as  high  as  ever  it  did  in  Edinburgh,  or  in 
any  part  of  Scotland."  And  when  we  look  at  its  effects  upon 
New  England,  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Virginia,  its  influ- 
ence must  have  been  very  great  upon  the  entire  American 
Church.  Yet,  says  Dr.  Philip,  "We  see  only  the  mighty 
impulse  Whitefield  gave." 

We  close  this  chapter  with  two  anecdotes.  On  one  occa- 
sion when  Whitefield  was  preaching  in  an  open  field,  a  drum- 
mer present,  determined  to  interrupt  him,  violently  beat  his 
drum  in  order  to  drown  his  voice.  Whitefield  spoke  very 
loud,  but  could  not  drown  the  noise  of  the  drum.  "  He  there- 
fore called  out  to  the  drummer.  Friend,  you  and  I  serve  the 
two  greatest  masters  existing,  but  in  different  callings.  You 
beat  up  for  volunteers  for  King  George,  I  for  the  Lord  Jesus  ; 
in  God's  name,  then,  let  us  not  interrupt  each  other ;  the  world 
is  wide  enough  for  both,  and  we  may  get  recruits  in  abund- 
ance." Overcome  with  the  touching  appeal,  "the  drummer 
19 


290  LIFE   OF  WHITEFIELD. 

went  away  in  great  good-humor,  and  left  the  preacher  in  full 
possession  of  the  field,"* 

*When  preaching  on  the  banks  of  a  river  in  Virginia,  in  speaking  of  the 
strength  of  human  depravity,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  means  of  grace  to  con- 
vert a  sinner  without  the  aid  of  God's  Spirit,  he  said,  "  Sinners,  think  not  that  I 
expect  to  convert  a  single  soul  of  you  by  anything  that  I  can  say,  without  the 
assistance  of  Him  who  is  '  mighty  to  save.'  Go  and  stand  by  that  river,  as  it 
moves  on  its  strong  and  deep  current  to  the  ocean,  and  bid  it  stop,  and  see  if  it 
will  obey  you.  Just  as  soon  should  I  expect  to  stop  that  river  by  a  word,  as  by 
my  preaching  to  stop  that  current  of  sin  which  is  carrying  you  to  perdition  !"  The 
impression  was  so  deep  that  many  were  ready  to  cry,  "  Save,  Lord ;  we  perish  !" 


CHAPTER     XXIX. 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND 1755-6-7-8. 

FTER  this  grand  tour  in  America,  late  in 
March,  Whitefield  again  embarked  for  Eng- 
.  land.  Sailing  on  "The  Friendship,"  Capt. 
Bell,  after  a  six  weeks'  voyage,  he  reached 
New  Haven,  in  Sussex,  May  8,  1755.  Abund- 
antly blessed  in  his  labors,  he  says,  "  I  left 
America  with  regret.  There  the  Gospel  runs 
and  is  glorified."  On  reaching  London,  he 
was  much  rejoiced  to  find  "that  so  many  young  men  had 
lately  been  stirred  up  to  preach  the  Gospel."  With  "Golden 
seasons  at  the  Tabernacle,  and  'many  awakenings  at  Oxford,' 
he  rejoiced  exceeding." 

Writing  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  he  says,  "What  a  blessed 
week  have  we  had !  Surely  sinners  have  come  like  a  cloud, 
and  fled  like  doves  to  the  windows. 

"What  a  happiness  is  it  to  be  absorbed  and  swallowed  up 
in  God  !  Tears  trickle  from  my  eyes,  while  I  am  thinking  01 
your  Ladyship's  condescending  to  patronize  such  a  dead  dog 
as  I  am.     But  it  is  because  I  belong  to  Jesus." 

Late  in  June,  we  find  him  on  "  his  first  excursion  "  preach- 
ing two  or  three  times  a  day  to  vast  crowds  in  Bristol,  Bath 
and  Gloucestershire,  where  "  the  people  heard  him  as  for  eter- 
nity." And  crucified  to  the  world  and  longing  for  God,  he 
says,  "  I  am  sick  of  myself,  sick  of  the  world,  sick  of  the 

(291) 


292  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Church,  and  am  panting  daily  for  the  full  enjoyment  of  my 
Loi-.I." 

1  n  August  he  went  to  Norwich  to  dedicate  the  new  Taber- 
nacle, where  he  says,  "  Although  offences  have  come,  there 
has  been  a  glorious  work  begun,  and  is  now  carrying  on  there. 
The  polite  and  great  seem  to  hear  with  much  attention,  and  I 
scarce  ever  preach  a  week  together  with  greater  freedom." 

"Errors  have  been  detected,  sinners  convicted,  saints  edi- 
fied, and  my  own  soul  sweetly  refreshed."  The  church  here 
had  increased  so  fast  that  soon  it  numbered  eight  hundred 
unusually  pious  members.  Though  much  absorbed  and  greatly 
rejoiced  in  this  glorious  work  at  Norwich,  his  affections  still 
clung  to  Boston.  He  says,  "  My  heart  is  so  full  for  dear  New 
England,  I  must  go  to  God  and  vent  it.  O,  America,  how 
dear  dost  thou  lie  upon  my  heart.  God  preserve  it  from 
popish  tyranny  and  arbitraiy  power."  On  returning  to  Lon- 
don, many  urged  him  to  engage  in  controversy  with  the  Wes- 
leys,  but  he  replied,  "  I  have  no  time  for  controversy." 

HIS    NORTHERN    TOUR. 

Still  retaining  his  old  name,  "  The  chief  of  si?mers,"  though 
"often  on  the  suburbs  of  heaven"  at  the  Tabernacle,  he  now 
set  out  on  his  northern  circuit  for  Yorkshire.  He  reached 
Northampton  September  i,  1755,  "  where  they  had  many  blessed 
seasons. "  While  visiting  his  friend  Hervey,  at  Weston 
Fa  veil,  in  reproving  a  friend  for  his  worldliness,  he  said, 
"  Strange  !  that  five  per  cent,  from  man,  should  be  preferred  to 
a  hundred  fold  from  God."  After  a  precious  visit  at  Lady 
Huntingdon's  at  Newcastle,  he  says,  "Jesus  hath  crowned  and 
blessed  my  feeble  labors  all  the  way."  At  Liverpool,  Bolton, 
Manchester,  Bradford  and  Leeds,  he  preached  with  his  usual 
power  and  success.     At  Bolton  the  cup  of  many  ran  over. 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  293 

Many  were  awakened  at  York,  and  at  Leeds  they  had  a  joy 
unutterable,  but  with  him  it  was  very  soon  turned  to  sorrow ; 
for  unknown  to  him  they  had  gone  on  and  almost  finished  a 
large  church  in  order  to  form  a  separate  congregation.  Hence 
he  "feared  an  awful  separation  in  the  societies."  He  did  all 
he  could  to  prevent  it.  But  believing  it  rose  from  a  selfish 
spirit,  he  exclaimed,  "O  this  self  love,  this  self-will!  It  is 
tlie  devil  of  devils.  Lord  Jesus  may  Thy  blessed  spirit  purge 
it  out  of  all  our  hearts." 

With  loud  calls  from  all  sides  to  go  and  preach,  he  now 
scarcely  knew  what  to  do.  He  had  traveled  far  and  preached 
hard  three  times  a  day  for  many  successive  days  with  great 
success.  Yet  with  summer  ended  and  winter  begun,  and  feel- 
ing himself  "an  unfruitful  dwarf,"  he  exclaimed,  "  O,  my  God! 
how  little  have  I  done  !  O,  that  I  could  preach  three  hundred 
times  a  day,  all  would  be  too  little  to  testify  my  feeble  love  to 
the  ever-loving  Jesus."  During  the  two-months'  circuit,  he 
traveled  about  eight  hundred  miles  and  preached  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty  sermons.  On  returning  to  London  Octo- 
ber 30,  he  said,  "  Never  did  I  see  the  Word  more  blessed,  or 
so  many  thousands  run  after  it  with  greater  greediness."  Yet 
withal  they  tell  me  "  I  grow  fat."  "O  that  I  may  grow  in  grace, 
especially  in  humility." 

whitefield's  patriotism. 

With  an  ardent  love  to  his  Saviour,  Whitefield  had  also 
a  very  warm  attachment  to  his  country.  And  during  this  ex- 
cursion his  patriotism  was  so  much  aroused  that  he  said, 
"  Next  to  inviting  the  masses  to  Christ,  I  have  always  ex- 
horted them  to  pray  for  King  George,  and  our  dear  friends  in 
America.  Next  to  Jesus,  my  king  and  viy  country  were  upon 
7ny  heart:'     This  sounds  much  like  Bishop  Simpson's  immortal 


294  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

words,  "Nail  the  Flag  just  below  the  Cross."  Or  like 
the  heroic  soldier's  dying  words,  "  Stand  by  the  Flag  and  cling 
to  the  Cross." 

On  a  former  occasion  Whitefield  Texclaimed,  "  O,  my  ignor- 
ance !  my  ignorance!"  and  whether  or  not  he  returned  from 
this  excursion  with  a  deeper  sense  of  his  sin,  and  a  stronger 
desire  for  light  we  now  find  him  earnestly  searching  to  know 
God  and  his  own  heart.  He  cries,  "O,  for  further  searches 
into  the  heights  and  depths  of  God !  O,  for  further  leadings 
into  the  chambers  of  that  selfish,  sensual  and  devilish  imagery 
that  yet  lie  latent  in  my  partly  renewed  heart.  This  self-love, 
what  a  Proteus/  This  self-will,  what  an  Hydra  f  This  re- 
maining body  of  sin  and  death,  what  an  Ayitkhrist !  what  a 
hell !  what  a  red  dragon!  what  a  cursed  monster  is  it !  How 
hard,  how  slow  he  dies  !"  Yet  filled  with  unutterable  joy,  he 
exclaimed  in  the  same  letter,  "  Glory,  glory  be  to  God,  this  is 
only  the  dawning  of  an  eternal  day."     (Letter  1109.) 

Although  he  "grew  fat"  during  this  excursion,  late  in 
November  he  had  a  bad  sore  throat  and  a  severe  attack  of 
"inflammatory  quinsy."  One  doctor  prescribed  "silence  and 
warmth"  as  a  probable  cure.  But  "the  medicine  of  silence"  for 
him  was  very  painful,  yet  he  promised  to  be  very  obedient. 
"Another  physician,"  he  says,  "prescribed  a  perpetual  blister, 
but  I  have  found  perpetual  preaching  to  be  a  better  remedy. 
When  this  grand  catholicon  fails,  it  is  all  over  with  me." 
While  thus  lingering  at  the  gates  of  death,  he  received  the  sad 
news  of  the  awful  earthquake  at  Lisbon,  destroying  about 
sixty  thousand  lives.  And,  not  knowing  how  soon  he  might 
go  himself,  he  joyfully  exclaimed,  "Blessed  Jesus,  I  am  ready ; 
I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  "  Poor  Lisbon!  how  soon 
are  all  thy  riches  and  superstitious  pageantry  swallowed  up  ! 
This  is  my  comfort,  all  my  goods  are  gone  before  me.     O,  the 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  295 

pleasure  of  having  nothing,  and  yet  possessing  all  things  in 
Jesus !     This  is  my  happy  lot." 

Urged  by  many  friends,  about  "New  Year's,"  1756,  White- 
field  commenced  preaching  twice  a  week  in  Long  Acre  chapel, 
in  the  west  end  of  the  city.  The  chapel  was  crowded  to  over- 
flowing the  first  night,  with  very  encouraging  prospects.  This 
was  a  rough  place,  and  Satan  soon  stirred  up  a  strong  oppo- 
sition. The  Bishop  sent  in  his  prohibition;  and  liired  rioters, 
with  bells,  drums,  marrow-bones,  clappers,  etc.,  disturbed  the 
congregation  every  night.  He  appealed  to  the  Bishop  and 
the  magistrate  for  protection,  but  the  rioters  went  on  until 
"many  women,"  he  says,  "were  almost  frightened  to  death,  and 
several  men  sadly  wounded."  They  broke  the  chapel  windows, 
and  threw  large  stones  at  Mr.  Whitefield,  while  he  was 
preaching.  Bold  and  earnest,  Whitefield  was  not  the  man  to 
be  cowed  down  b\'  rioters'  threats  and  Bishops'  prohibitions. 
To  be  prohibited  from  preaching  under  such  circumstances,  he 
said,  "To  me  would  be  worse  than  death  itself"  No;  he 
preached  on,  and  God  abundantly  blessed  his  labors.  A 
confirmed  deist  had  become  as  a  little  child ;  one  of  the  rioters 
had  been  pricked  to  the  heart,  and  when  he  came  back  to  preach 
in  March,  he  says  "  all  was  hushed."  But  this  lull,  it  seems, 
was  only  a  prelude  to  more  desperate  deeds.  They  even  threat- 
ened Whitefield's  life.  "But,"  says  he,  "Jesus  will  guard  me." 
"  At  the  Tabernacle,  a  man  came  up  to  him  in  the  pulpit,"  says 
Dr.  Belcher,  "  threatening  his  life,  and  handing  him  three 
anonymous  letters,  denouncing  sudden  and  certain  death  unless 
he  ceased  to  preach,  and  pursue  the  offenders.  They  kept  up 
this  disturbance  for  a  long  while."  "Yet,"  says  Whitefield," all 
things  happen  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel." 


296  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

TOTTENHAM   COURT   CHAPEL. 

Having  stormed  this  stronghold  of  Satan,  Whitefield  now 
commenced  a  brick  chapel,  seventy  feet  square,  on  the  con- 
quered field.  He  raised  near  ^600  for  it  in  the  first  collection. 
The  foundation  was  laid  in  June,  1756,  and  it  was  opened  for 
divine  service  the  following  November,  when  Whitefield 
preached  from  Kings  viii.  ii.  "The  glory  of  the  Lord  filled 
the  house."  It  has  been  twice  enlarged;  once  in  1759,  and 
again  in  1830,  with  groat  expense.  He  called  it  Tottenham 
Court  Road  chapel,  but  a  neighboring  physician  called  it 
"  Whitefield's  SOUL  TRAP."  Here  many  souls  have  been 
caught,  and  many  precious  revivals  enjoyed.  "Thus  Jesus 
gets  Himself  the  victory." 

Coming  out  of  Long  Acre,  longing  "  to  sit  upon  a  throne  in 
heaven,"  he  now  made  a  short  excursion  in  his  native  region. 
At  Bristol,  Gloucester,  Bradford,  Frome  and  at  Portsmouth, 
Jesus  gave  him  great  victories.  In  November,  he  returned  to 
Long  Acre,  "  to  keep  Pentecost,"  and  to  dedicate  the  new 
chapel. 

Refreshed  by  these  sieges  and  excursions,  late  in  July, 
1756,  Whitefield  again  set  out  for  Scotland.  On  his  way 
thither  he  enjoyed  very  precious  seasons  at  Leeds,  where  he 
preached  thrice  nearly  evcr>^  day,  with  great  power,  for  about 
a  week.  "  At  Bradford,  about  seven  in  the  morning,  the  con- 
gregation numbered  about  ten  thousand ;  at  noon  and  in  the 
evening,  at  Burstall,  nearly  twenty  thousand."  Though  hoarse, 
he  spoke  so  that  all  could  hear.  After  taking  a  sorrowful 
leave  of  Leeds  next  morning,  he  preached  at  Tadcastle  and 
York,  "with  delightful  seasons."  All  the  way  he  found  a  deep 
interest,  as  the  result  of  his  former  labors. 

He  reached  Edinburgh,  August  20,  and  met  with    more 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  297 

than  his  usual  welcome.  Here  he  preached  twice  a  day  for 
near  four  weeks,  to  very  crowded  auditories.  The  politicians 
thronged  to  hear  him.  After  dedicating  the  new  chapel  at 
Tottenham  Court,  he  preached  constantly  about  fifteen  times  a 
week,  and  by  December  15,  1756,  "they  had  a  wonderful 
stirring  among  the  dry  bones.  It  is  flie  most  promising  work 
the  Redeemer  ever  employed  me  in.  God  is  doing  wonders  at 
the  new  chapel.  The  Word  flies  like  lightning  in  it.  After 
New  Year's,  it  was  made  a  Bethel,  and  the  awakening 
increased  daily.  Many  were  powerfully  convicted.  The  rich 
came  begging  to  rent  seats." 

Having  lodged  his  plan  and  plea  for  his  projected  college 
at  Bethesda  in  the  hands  of  Lord  Halifax,  late  in  the  spring  of 
1757,  Whitefield  made  his  ninth  visit  to  Scotland.  He  reached 
Edinburgh,  May  12th;  left  it  June  6th,  and  preached  just  fifty 
times. 

It  being  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly, 
about  a  hundred  of  their  ministers  attended  his  ministrations  at 
a  time.  "Their  prejudices,"  he  says,  "were  removed,  and 
many  of  their  hearts  were  deeply  impressed.  About  thirty  of 
them  invited  me  to  a  public  entertainment.  The  Lord  High 
Commissioner  and  many  other  distinguished  persons  did  the 
same."  Vast  congregations  and  many  of  the  best  rank 
attended  daily,  and  the  longer  he  staid  the  more  the  congrega- 
tions and  interest  increased.  On  the  8th,  he  went  to  Glasgow, 
and  preached  several  days  with  equal  success,  and  took  up  a 
collection  of  £60  for  the  poor  of  that  city. 

WHITEFIELD  "A    GORE    OF    BLOOD." 

Having  seen  Christ's  almighty  arm  most  powerfully  revealed 
in  Scotland,  he  now  went  to  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  he  preached 
to  very  large  and  deeply  impressed  congregations.     By  July  3d, 


298-  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD.  ^ 

all  sorts  were  affected,  and  many  were  inquiring,  "What  shall 
I  do  to  be  saved?"  Arrows  of  convictionjlew  thick  and  stuck 
fast.  A  bishop  said  he  "  was  glad  Whitefield  was  come  to  rouse 
the  people."  From  Dublin  he  went  and  preached  with  great 
success  at  Athlone,  Limerick  and  Cork.  On  Sabbath,  July  8, 
he  went  out  and  preached  to  a  vast  multitude  at  Oxmantown 
Green,  Dublin  (a  place  much  like  Moorfields),  with  only  a  few 
stones  and  clods  being  thrown  at  him :  but  on  his  return  he 
was  furiously  attacked  by  a  popish  mob.  Being  alone,  he  says, 
"  volleys  of  hard  stones  came  from  all  quarters,  and  ever)''  step 
I  took  a  fresh  stone  struck,  and  made  me  reel  backwards  and 
forwards  till  I  was  almost  breathless,  and  all  over  a  gore  of 
blood.  I  received  many  blows  and  wounds ;  one  was  particu- 
larly large  and  near  my  temple.  They  almost  killed  me.  I 
thought  of  Stephen,  and  as  I  believed  that  I  received  more 
blows,  I  was  in  great  hopes  that  like  him  I  should  be  dis- 
patched, and  go  off  in  this  bloody  triumph  to  the  immediate 
presence  of  my  Master."  But,  fortunately,  "with  great  diffi- 
culty I  staggered  to  the  door  of  a  minister's  house,  which  was 
kindly  opened  and  shut  upon  me.  For  awhile  I  continued 
speechless,  panting  for  and  expecting  every  breath  to  be  my 
last."  After  his  friends  dressed  his  wounds  and  gave  him  cor- 
dials, he  gradually  revived,  but  soon  found  that  the  lady  of  the 
house  desired  his  absence,  fearing  that  the  house  would  soon  be 
pulled  down.  Being  two  miles  from  his  lodgings,  he  now  knew 
not  what  to  do.  At  length  a  friend  offered  him  his  wig  and 
coat  that  he  might  go  off  in  disguise ;  he  accepted  them,  and 
put  them  on,  but  was  soon  so  ashamed  of  not  trusting  in  the 
Lord  to  protect  him,  he  soon  threw  them  off  with  disdain.  At 
length  a  Methodist  preacher  and  two  friends  brought  a  coach 
in  which  "he  rode  in  gospel  triumph  through  the  oaths,  curses, 
and  imprecations  of  whole  streets  of  papists  unhurt,  though 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  299 

threatened  every  step  of  the  ground."  He  was  received  with 
the  tvarjiiest  affection  by  his  weeping  friends.  After  a  surgeon 
dressed  his  wounds  he  went  into  the  churches,  gave  a  word  of 
exhortation,  and  joined  in  a  hymn  of  praise  and  thanksgiving. 
"  Next  morning,"  he  says,  "  I  set  out  for  Port  Arhngton,  leaving 
my  persecutors  to  His  mercy,  who  out  of  persecutors  hath 
often  made  preachers.  May  I  thus  be  revenged  of  them."  It 
was  in  time  of  war,  but  he  had  done  nothing  but  urge  all  to  be 
faithful  to  King  Jesus,  and  to  King  George,  and  prayed  for  the 
success  of  the  King  of  Prussia. 

It  is  wonderful  to  see  with  what  rapid  speed  Whitefield  now 
went  about  like  a  flying  angel  preaching  the  everlasting  gospel. 
Leaving  London  early  in  May,  he  traveled  through  England 
and  Scotland,  preached  50  times  in  Edinburgh,  several  days  in 
Glasgow,  "ranged"  through  Ireland,  and  after  preaching  with 
great  power  at  Athlone,  Limerick,  Cork  and  Dublin,  he  returned 
to  England,  covered  with  scars  of  honor  and  glory  received  on 
the  bloody  field  of  Oxmantown.  And  all  in  about  three 
months. 

Returning  to  England  early  in  August,  he  says,  "at  Ath- 
lone, Limerick,  Cork,  and  especially  at  Dublin,  where  I  preached 
near  fifty  times,  we  had  Cambuslang  seasons.  It  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  I  got  away."  He  reached  London  August 
26th,  and  found  "the  prospects  more  and  more  promising." 
At  Plymouth  he  left  "all  God's  people  on  the  wing  for  heaven," 
and  said,  "This  spiritual  hunting  is  delightful  sport  when  the 
heart  is  in  it." 

Although  he  now  longed  to  return  to  America,  yet  with  "a 
fresh  work  breaking  out  in  London,"  he  could  not  leave  it. 
The  interest  was  so  great  at  Tottenham  Court  Chapel  that 
thousands  had  to  go  away  for  want  of  room.  "The  chapel  was 
made  a  Bethel,  indeed." 


200  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Worn  down  with  excessive  labor,  he  said,  November  26, 
"  Preaching  three  times  yesterday  hath  somewhat  recovered 
me.  I  am  now  brought  to  the  short  allowance  of  preaching 
but  once  a  day  and  three  times  on  Sunday." 

With  his  ever  active,  all-compassionate  heart,  he  now  pro- 
jected a  plan  to  erect  twelve  almshouses  on  the  new  chapel  lot, 
for  "  godly  widows."  He  proposed  to  allow  each  one  half  a 
crown  a  week.  He  soon  raised  ^^400,  erected  twelve  alms- 
houses, and  commenced  admitting  widows  the  following  June. 
He  called  them  "his  redoubts"  as  the  prayers  of  the  widows 
protected  him  in  his  house. 

Whitefield  commenced  the  year  1758  with  an  humble  con- 
fession. With  all  his  learning  and  varied  experience,  he  says, 
"  I  find  more  and  more  that  I  am  a  mere  novice  in  the  divine 
life,  and  have  scarce  begun  to  begin  to  learn  my  A-B-C's  in 
the  school  of  Christ."  Yet  he  rejoiced  to  see  "several  new 
flaming  preachers  come  forth  in  London  and  elsewhere.  To 
Professor  Francke,  whose  country  was  then  engaged  in  a  dan- 
gerous war,  he  wrote,  "  Our  Joshuas  are  in  the  field,  and  many 
a  Moses  is  gone  up  into  the  mount  to  pray.  Nil  desperanditni 
Christo  duce,  auspice  Christo.  The  ark  trembles,  but  under 
neath  are  the  everlasting  arms  of  the  everlasting  God."  With 
frequent  conversions  at  the  new  chapel,  and  with  the  aid  of 
these  "  flaming  preachers,"  the  Kingdom  of  God  now  moved 
on  with  power.  "  Almost  a  whole  parish  was  soon  brought  to 
inquire  after  Jesus." 

Thus  with  the  good  work  all  ablaze  in  London,  he  com- 
menced his  "summer  campaign"  in  Gloucester  about  the  middle 
of  May.  After  preaching  three  times,  and  administering  the 
sacrament  the  first  Sabbath  with  a  blessed  beginning,  he  says, 
"  I  am  now  writing  in  the  room  where  I  was  born.  Blessed  be 
God  I  know  there  is  a  place  where  I  was  born  again."    Thence 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  3OI 

he  went  and  preached  twice  a  day  in  Bristol  to  vast  multitudes, 
with  lasting  impressions. 

Late  in  May,  though  very  unwell,  he  set  out  for  Wales. 
Being  unable  to  ride  in  a  chaise  or  sulkey,  a  friend  advanced  the 
money  and  bought  him  a  carriage,  and  thus  enabled  him  to  go 
on.  In  speaking  of  paying  for  it  he  said,  "  I  would  not  lay  out 
a  single  farthing  but  for  my  blessed  Master."  After  his  return 
he  said,  "  Never  was  I  brought  so  low  as  on  my  late  Welsh 
circuit.  It  is  inconceivable  what  I  have  undergone  within  these 
three  weeks."  Although  unable  to  sit  up  in  company,  yet  he 
was  strengthened  to  travel  without  bodily  food,  and  preach  to 
many  thousands  every  day.  At  Haverford-west  he  had  near 
15,000,  "where  the  Lord  Jesus  seemed  to  ride  in  triumph 
through  the  great  congregation,  and  made  tears  flow  like  water 
from  the  stony  rock.  It  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  cir- 
cuits I  ever  took."  And  feeling  deeply  humbled,  he  said  to 
Lady  Huntingdon,  ''O,  I  am  sick!  I  am  sick!  sick  in  body,  but 
infinitely  more  so  in  mind,  to  see  what  dross  yet  remains  in  and 
surrounds  my  soul."  And  longing  for  a  purer  heart,  after 
seeing  the  workman  at  Shields  put  his  glass  into  the  first, 
second  and  third  furnace  to  make  it  transparent,  because  the 
first  was  not  hot  enough,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  my  God,  put  me 
into  one  furnace  after  another,  that  my  soul  may  be  transparent, 
that  I  may  see  God  as  He  is."     (Belcher,  370.) 

HE   GOES   TO    SCOTLAND. 

Late  in  July,  1758,  Whitefield  set  out  again  for  Scotland. 
Preaching  by  the  way  at  Everton,  Saint  Neots,  Kayso,  Bed- 
ford, Oulney,  Weston,  Underwood,  Northampton,  and  John 
Bunyan's  pulpit,  he  reached  Edinburgh  early  in  August.  He 
was  now  "so  exceeding  low"  he  called  himself  "a  dying 
man,"  and  expected  death  every  sermon.     Yet  he  preached  on. 


302  LIFE    OF   VVHITEFIELD. 

and  after  preaching  about  thirty  times,  he  says,  "blessed  be 
God,  I  am  a  great  deal  better.  This  preaching  is  a  strange 
restorative."  He  wished  his  friend,  Rev.  Mr.  Tennent,  to  take 
it  every  day.  "Multitudes  of  all  ranks  flocked  rather  more 
than  ever  to  hear  the  gospel." 

Not  having  time  to  see  Mr.  Tennent  and  other  friends,  he 
said,  "  most  of  my  Christian  meetings  must  be  adjourned  to 
heaven."  From  Edinburgh  he  went  to  Glasgow,  and  "labored 
harder  than  ever,"  preaching  two  or  three  times  a  day  to  very 
large  and  deeply  affected  congregations.  Here  he  took  up  a 
collection  for  the  Glasgow  poor.  His  collection  for  the  Orphan 
Hospital  in  Edinburgh  exceeded  ;^200.  His  love  for  the 
Scotch,  and  theirs  for  him,  was  now  so  ardent,  that  he  says  the 
partings  from  both  places  were  so  cutting,  he  called  it  '^execu- 
tion day" 

Besides  severe  afflictions,  Whitefield  this  year  suffered  the 
loss,  by  death,  of  four  dear  distinguished  friends:  Wm.  Hervey, 
President  Burr,  Governor  Belcher,  and  Jonathan  Edwards.  He 
felt  this  great  loss  very  keenly.  Leaving  Scotland,  after  preach- 
ing at  Newcastle,  Durham,  Sheffield,  Leeds,  etc.,  he  returned 
to  London  late  in  October,  shocked  at  the  idea  of  being  driven 
into  winter  quarters.  He  prayed,  "  Lord,  prepare  me  for  winter 
trials." 

Whitefield  was  now  very  much  rejoiced  in  being  able, 
through  a  large  legacy  bestowed,  to  pay  off"  the  Orphan  House 
debt.  He  was,  therefore,  very  anxious  to  "flee  to  America;" 
but  failing  to  get  his  London  chapels  supplied,  he  labored  on 
there  until  spring,  with  increased  interest.  "  God,"  he  said,  "  is 
doing  wonders  at  Long  Acre."  With  many  "blessed  seasons" 
during  the  winter,  in  May,  1759,  he  opened  another  "spring 
campaign"  at  Bristol,  with  unusually  large  and  very  deeply  inter- 
ested congregations.      After  preaching  with  great  power,  for 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  3O3 

several  days,  in  Gloucester  and  York  counties,  to  the  great  sur- 
prise of  all,  he  says,  "I  am  growing  fat."  But  he  took  it  to  be  a 
disease,  and  hoped  it  would  shorten  his  life.  Extending  his  cam- 
paign to  Scotland,  he  reached  Edinburgh  early  in  July,  1759. 
"The  people  flocked  as  usual."  The  Word  ran  and  was  glorified. 
In  six  weeks  he  preached  near  one  hundred  times  in  Edinburgh 
and  Glasgow,  "stirring  up  a  zeal  for  his  God,  his  King,  and  his 
country,"  and  collected  ^215  for  the  Orphan  Hospital  in  Edin- 
burgh. He  also  preached  a  thanksgiving  sermon,  to  avast  con- 
gregation on  the  Spanish  victory  over  the  French.  During  this 
visit  to  Scotland,  Whitefield  had  the  privilege  of  showing  his 
generosity,  and  the  honor  of  declining  a  large  legacy  of  seven 
thousand  pounds.  Says  Dr.  Gillies,  "One  Miss  Hunter,  a  lady 
of  fortune,  made  him  a  full  offer  of  her  estate,  amounting  to 
about  ^7000,  which  he  generously  refused."  She  then  offered 
it  to  him  for  the  benefit  of  his  Orphan  House,  which  he  abso- 
lutely refused.  On  returning  to  London  in  August,  with  all  of 
Bethesda's  debt  paid  off,  he  was  so  glad,  he  exclaimed,  "  O, 
what  hath  God  wrought?  Wonders,  wonders.  Praise  the 
Lord,  O  our  souls !  Lord  Jesus,  continue  to  be  Bethesda's 
God !"  He  spent  the  winter  in  London,  and  with  the  work 
increasing  daily,  he  had  the  new  chapel  enlarged.  During  this 
winter  he  wrote  a  preface  to  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Clarke's  Bible, 
which,  next  to  Henry's,  "was  his  favorite  commentary." 

With  only  seven  letters  preserved,  the  record  of  White- 
field's  life  during  the  year  1760  is  very  scanty.  This  is  doubt- 
less owing  to  the  feeble  state  of  his  health.  In  the  spring  he 
opened  the  "  new  enlargement "  of  the  chapel,  and  celebrated 
tlie  event  by  raising  ;^400  for  the  distressed  Prussian  Protest- 
ants, for  which,  'tis  said,  he  received  the  thanks  of  the  King 
of  Prussia.  Though  naturally  "slender  in  person,"  he  was 
now,  from  declining  strength,  he  says,  "  growing  very  corpu- 


304  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

lent."  As  this  tended  to  languor,  he  dreaded  and  tried  to  pre- 
vent it. 

In  the  summer  he  made  a  short  tour  into  Gloucestershire 
and  South  Wales — thence  to  Bristol,  where  his  congregations 
sometimes  reached  near  ten  thousand.  The  meetings  were  so 
refreshing,  "the  house  was  a  Bethel  every  time."  His  wife  was 
now  so  sick  in  London  he  thought  of  going  to  see  her,  but  she 
got  better  and  he  went  on  with  his  campaign.  Anxious  to 
hear  from  Bethesda,  early  in  August  he  returned  to  London, 
and  found  many  seeking  the  Saviour.  In  September  and 
October  he  made  another  tour  through  Yorkshire,  and  re- 
turned to  London  in  November,  where  he  spent  the  winter  as 
usual. 

Although  Whitefield  had  already  endured  many  severe 
trials  and  bloody  persecutions,  he  now  suffers  another.  Failing 
with  mobs,  stones  and  clubs  to  drive  him  away  from  Long  Acre, 
they  now  try  mocking  him  on  the  public  stage.  "Satan  is 
^ngry,"  he  says,  "and  I  am  now  mimicked  and  burlesqued 
upon  the  public  stage.  All  hail  such  contempt!  God  forbid 
that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  is 
sweet!  it  is  sweet!'  To  carry  on  this  audacious  mockery,  Mr. 
S.  Foote,  a  noted  mimic,  composed  a  farce  called  the  Minor,  to 
be  acted  in  Drury  Lane  theatre.  They  went  on  with  it  for 
awhile,  but  instead  of  lessening  Whitefield's  congregations,  it 
greatly  increased  them.  Thus  God  gave  him  the  victory.  One 
evening  when  Foote  was  ridiculing  Whitefield  in  Drury  Lane, 
while  he  was  preaching  in  Long  Acre  chapel  on  the  joys  of 
heaven,  towards  the  close  of  his  sermon,  when  his  soul  was  all 
'  on  fire  with  the  grandeur  of  his  theme,  he  cried  out  to  his  en- 
raptured congregation,  pointing  to  heaven,  "there,  there,  an 
ungodly  Foote  tramples  on  the  saints  no  more." 

The  incidents  of  1 76 1    opened  with  a  narrow  escape  of 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  305 

his  life  from  a  dangerous  upset  in  a  chaise.  Fortunately  he 
"received  but  little  hurt."  A  great  mercy.  With  the  work 
still  increasing  in  London,  he  now  had  so  many  calls  and  so 
few  assistants,  that  he  scarce  knew  what  to  do.  Yet  roused  by 
the  "  German  and  Boston  sufferers,"  he  preached  twice  in  his 
London  chapels  on  the  general  fast  day  in  February,  and  raised 
near  £600  for  these  sufferers :  ;^400  were  given  to  the  Germans 
and  the  balance  to  Boston.  The  Boston  people  thanked  him 
for  it. 

In  the  midst  of  these  trials  and  pressing  wants,  the  Rev. 
John  Berridge,  a  flaming  preacher  of  Everton,  came  to  his 
assistance.  Overworked  in  this  increased  awakening,  White- 
field  now  grew  worse,  and  by  May  2,  he  says,  "  I  have  been  at 
the  very  gates  of  death.  O,  into  what  a  world  was  I  launching ! 
But  the  prayers  of  God's  people  have  brought  me  back." 
With  his  natural  strength  failing,  he  now  says,  "  My  locks  are 
cut." 

After  visiting  Bristol,  Exeter  and  Plymouth,  and  becoming 
a  little  better,  he  tried  to  preach,  but  could  not.  "  For  some 
weeks  he  did  not  preach  a  single  sermon."  He  now  under- 
took another  excursion  North,  and  by  October  24  we  find  him 
at  Leeds,  riding  for  his  health.  Yet,  longing  for  death,  and 
praying,  "  Conte,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly,"  he  now  improved 
so  fast,  that  when  he  got  to  Newcastle  "  he  could  bear  to  ride 
sixty  miles  a  day  quite  well."  Still  kept  from  preaching,  he 
said,  "Jesus  can  either  restore  me  or  enable  me  to  drink  the 
bitter  cup  of  continued  silence." 

Extending  his  journey,  he  went  on  to  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow,  and  became  much  worse.  Getting  better  again,  after 
a  long  silence,  he  returned  to  London  and  commenced  the  year 
1762  with  a  New  Year's  sermon.  In  April,  he  went  to  Bristol, 
and  commenced  preaching  four  or  five  times  a  week  with  great 


306  '  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

success.  This  he  continued  till  May.  Sometimes  he  even 
ventured  to  preach  in  the  fields,  which  he  considered  "a  greater 
honor  than  to  be  monarch  of  the  universe."  Glad  to  get  out 
of  ceiled  houses  and  vaulted  roofs,  he  said,  "  Mounts  are  the 
best  pulpits,  and  the  heavens  the  best  sounding-boards.  O, 
for  power  equal  to  my  will !  I  would  fly  from  pole  to  pole, 
publishing  the  everlasting  gospel."  He  returned  to  London 
late  in  May,  much  improved  by  his  country  excursion.  But 
being  brought  down  again  by  London  cares  and  London 
labors,  he  now  made  a  voyage  to  Holland,  which  proved  so 
beneficial  that,  by  the  last  of  July,  he  was  able  to  preach  once 
a  day.  He  preached  four  times  in  Rotterdam.  On  returning 
to  Norwich,  he  found  the  interest  so  great,  he  said,  ''All  my 
old  times  are  revived  again y 

SCOTLAND. 

Multiplying  excursions,  he  now  made  another  to  Scotland. 
He  reached  Edinburgh,  August  i8,  and  preached  alternately 
there  and  at  Glasgow  every  day  for  near  four  weeks,  with  great 
success.  "  The  kirk  was  a  Bethel."  After  preaching  twice  at 
Cambuslang,  he  returned  to  England  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, rejoicing  with  the  prospect  of  peace  and  a  speedy 
return  to  America.  Though  very  feeble,  he  preached  once  a 
day  during  the  winter  in  Leeds,  Bristol,  Plymouth  and  London, 
"with'many  great  awakenings." 

At  length  the  way  being  open,  in  January,  1763,  he 
decided  to  go  to  America,  by  way  of  Greenock,  Scotland. 
After  arranging  with  some  trusty  friends  to  take  care  of  his 
London  chapels  and  his  home  affairs,  he  sailed  for  Greenock 
early  in  March.  On  his  way  thither  he  preached  at  Everton, 
Leeds,  Aberford,  Kippax  and  Newcastle,  with  much  interest, 


FURTHER  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  3O7 

and  wrote  his  reply  to  Bishop  Warburton's  attack  on  Method- 
ism. He  reached  Edinburgh  about  the  middle  of  March,  and 
for  awhile  was  able  to  preach  once  a  day,  but  his  old  disorder 
returning  again,  he  was  obliged  to  keep  silent  nearly  six  weeks. 
After  a  weeping  farewell,  he  sailed  for  America. 


CHAPTER     XXX. 


HIS    SIXTH    VISIT   TO    AMERICA. 

T  length,  after  eight  more  )^ears  of  labor  and 
suffering  in  the  Old  World,  Whitefield  again 
embarks  for  the  New.  He  sailed  June  4, 
1763,  on  the  ship  "Fanny,"  Captain  Galbreath, 
'T^X^  from  Greenock,  Scotland,  for  Rappahannock, 
Virginia.  This  was  his  eleventh  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  With  a  kind  cap- 
tain, the  voyage,  though  long  and  tedious,  was 
very  pleasant.  Scarce  an  oath  was  heard.  After  they  had 
been  out  about  six  weeks,  he  says,  "  All  hath  been  harmony 
and  love,  Jesus  hath  made  the  ship  a  Bethel!'  The  crew 
gladly  heard  him  when  he  was  able  to  preach.  But,  owing  to 
his  asthma,  he  sailed  with  but  little  hopes  of  much  further 
public  usefulness.  After  a  twelve  weeks'  voyage,  he  reached 
Virginia,  August  23,  and  was  very  kindly  received  by  some 
friends,  whom  he  had  never  heard  of  before.  After  writing 
tender  letters  to  his  London  congregations,  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  found  "some  young  bright  witnesses  rising 
up  in  the  Church."  Here,  too,  he  had  the  great  privilege  of 
meeting  and  "conversing  with  about  forty  nezv-creature  min- 
isters of  different  denominations,"  and  of  hearing  of  "  sixteen 
hopeful  students  who  were  converted  at  New  Jersey  College 
last  year."  These  bright  prospects  encouraged  him  very  much. 
He  now  longed  to  go  to  Bethesda,  but,  advised  by  his  phy- 

(308) 


HIS   SIXTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  3O9 

sicians,  he  waited  awhile  to  see  what  the  cold  weather  would 
do  for  his  health.  And,  by  November  8,  he  says,  "  I  make  a 
shift  to  preach  twice  a  week."  Many  were  deeply  impressed. 
Having  spent  about  three  months  in  Philadelphia,  he  passed 
over  into  New  Jersey,  and  preached  four  times  at  New  Jersey 
College  and  twice  at  Elizabethtown,  with  "sweet  seasons" 
every  time.  "Some  said  they  resembled  old  times."  He 
said,  "  New  Jersey  College  is  a  blessed  nursery ;  one  of  the 
purest,  perhaps,  in  the  world.  The  worthy  president  and 
three  tutors  are  all  bent  upon  making  the  students  both  saints 
and  scholars." 

REVIVAL    IN    NEW    YORK. 

Whitefield  reached  New  York,  December  i,  1763,  and 
commenced  preaching  immediately.  At  the  beginning  he 
prayed,  "  Lord  Jesus,  convert  us  all  more  and  more,  and  make 
us  all  like  little  children."  With  improved  "  spirits,"  he  was 
able  to  preach  three  times  a  week,  and  says,  "  Such  a  flocking 
of  all  ranks  I  never  before  saw  at  New  York.  Every  day  the 
thirst  for  hearing  the  Word  increases,  and  the  better  sort  come 
home  with  me  to  hear  more  of  it."  With  old  prejudices  sub- 
siding and  the  interest  increasing,  the  higher,  as  well  as  "  the 
common  people  heard  him  gladly." 

While  here  he  preached  two  charity  sermons,  and  raised  at 
one  of  them  ^^"120  for  Mr.  Wheelock's  Indian  school — "the 
most  promising  nursery  of  future  missionaries"  in  New 
England.  The  other  collection — for  the  poor — was  double  the 
usual  amount  on  similar  occasions. 

Continuing  his  labors  here  for  several  weeks,  the  interest 
increased  more  than  ever.  But  being  very  unwell,  he  preached 
only  twice  a  week.  One  man  prayed,  "  May  God  restore  this 
great  and  good  man  to  a  perfect  state  of  health." 

After  making  an  excursion  of  some  six  months  in   New 


310  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

England,  he  returned  to  New  York  in  June,  and  found  the 
work  spreading.  The  interest  was  now  so  great  that  he  ven- 
tured to  preach  twice  in  the  fields,  and  says,  "  We  sat  under 
the  blessed  Redeemer's  shadow  with  great  delight."  "  It 
would  surprise  you  to  see  a  hundred  carriages  at  every  sermon 
in  this  New  World."  While  here,  he  also  made  frequent 
excursions  on  Long  Island,  with  blessed  effects.  It  is  no 
wonder  he  exclaimed,  "  Let  everything  that  hath  breath  praise 
the  Lord !"  These  things,  together  with  the  numerous 
conversions  under  his  sermons,  and  "a  most  solemn  and  heart- 
breaking parting"  when  he  left,  made  New  York  seem  to  him 
like  "  a  nezv  New  York  indeed."  To  see  a  hundred  carriages 
at  every  sermon  in  New  York  now,  with  its  million  of  inhabi- 
tants, would  show  a  very  deep  interest,  but  much  more  to  have 
seen  them  one  hundred  and  ten  years  ago,  when  the  population 
was  only  about  fifteen  thousand.  While  here,  he  consented  to 
sit  for  his  portrait,  which  was  sent  to  Mr.  Keen,  London,  which 
he,  if  judged  proper,  was  to  hang  up  in  the  Tabernacle  parlor. 

NEW    ENGLAND. 

"  Braced  up"  with  the  cold,  and  encouraged  with  his  great 
success  in  New  York,  Whitefield  again  struck  for  New 
England.  After  preaching  at  East  Hampton,  South-Hold, 
Shelter  Island,  New  London,  Norwich  and  Providence,  he 
reached  Boston,  February,  1764,  and  was  received  with  "the 
usual  warmth  of  affection."  "  Having  seen  the  Redeemer's 
stately  steppings  in  the  great  congregation  in  Boston,''  with 
"  invitations  coming  in  so  thick  and  fast  from  every  quarter 
that  he  knew  not  what  to  do,"  he  says,  "  a  zvider  door  than  ever 
is  opened  all  along  the  continent."  The  small-pox  prevailing 
at  Boston,  he  now  branched  out  and  preached  at  Newburyport 
and  Portsmouth^  with  a  most  blessed  influence,  and  many  have 
been  made  to  cry  out,  "  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?" 


HIS   SIXTH    VISIT    TO    AMERICA.  3II 

Although  he  returned  to  Boston  with  "  his  wings  cHppcd," 
yet  his  preaching  was  so  attractive  and  powerful,  he  says, 
"  words  cannot  well  express  the  eagerness  of  the  people  to 
hear."  "  I  was  meditating  an  escape  southward,  but  last  week 
tlie  Boston  people  sent  a  gospel  ciy  after  me,  and  really 
brought  me  back.  They  have  constrained  me  to  stay,  and 
now,  May  19,  beg  earnestly  for  a  six  o'clock  morning  lecture." 
Awakenings  occurred  daily.  The  affection  for  him  in  Boston 
was  now  so  strong  that,  when  he  came  away,  he  said,  "The 
parting  here  hath  been  heart-breaking.     I  cannot  stand  it." 

When  he  got  to  New  York,  June  25,  1764,  with  his  winter 
campaign  over,  Mr.  Smith,  his  faithful  host,  wrote  him  thus  : 
"  Your  departure  hence  never  before  so  deeply  wounded  us,." 
and  the  number  of  conversions  after  his  farewell  sermon  was 
found  to  be  so  great,  that  his  friends  proposed  sending  him  a 
book  full  of  their  names,  calling  him  back.  But  the  crowning 
act  of  the  expedition  was,  he  says,  "  after  preaching  at  Nezv 
Haven  College,  the  president  came  to  me,  as  I  was  going  off 
in  the  chaise,  and  informed  me  that  the  students  were  so 
deeply  impressed  by  the  sermon  that  they  were  gone  into  the 
chapel,  and  earnestly  entreated  me  to  give  them  one  more 
quarter  of  an  hour's  exhortation."  He  complied,  and  the  effect 
was  wonderful. 

Having  labored  near  three  months  more  in  New  York, 
"after  a  most  solemn  and  heart-breaking  parting  there,"  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  with  his  health  better  than  it  had  been 
for  three  years.  After  preaching  here  with  a  very  deep  effect, 
he  went  up  and  preached  at  the  Annual  Commencement  at 
New  Jersey  College,  which  he  said,  "  is  one  of  the  best  regu- 
lated institutions  in  the  world."  Here  every  mark  of  respect 
was  shown  him  by  the  Governor  and  ex-Governor  of  the  State, 
and  many  other  distinguished  gentlemen.     For  his  deep  inter- 


312  LIFE    OF    VVHITEFIELD. 

est  in  the  College  the  trustees  sent  him  a  vote  of  thanks. 
Crowned  with  great  success,  he  now  received  "most  importu- 
nate calls  from  every  quarter;"  and  with  a  range  so  large, 
although  he  had  been  laboring  in  America  over  a  year,  he 
says,  "  I  have  scarce  begun  to  begin."  Rejoicing  in  the  Lord, 
he  left  Philadelphia,  exclaiming,  "  O  what  blessings  have  we 
received  in  this  place  !"     "  Hallelujah,  the  Lord  reigneth  !" 

HE   GOES    SOUTH. 

Having  spent  about  a  month  in  Philadelphia,  Whitefield 
set  out  for  "his  beloved  Bethesda."  After  "cross-plowing" 
Virginia  again,  he  crossed  over  into  North  Carolina  and  spent 
a  Sabbath  "with  good  impressions"  at  Newbern.  Here  he 
frequently  met  with  a  sect  called  Netv-Lights,  who  proposed  to 
unite  with  him,  but  the  way  was  not  clear.  They  were  so 
hungry  for  the  Gospel,  he  felt  like  coming  back  to  preach  to 
them.  At  Savannah  he  was  received  with  "great  favor,"  and 
found  "the  colony  rising  very  fast,"  with  "nothing  but  peace 
and  plenty  at  Bethesda."  In  January,  1765,  he  says,  "God  has 
given  me  great  favor  in  the  sight  of  the  Governor,  Council  and 
Assembly."  At  his  request  they  made  him  another  grant  of 
2000  acres  of  land  for  Bethesda.  The  interest  in  the  intended 
College  was  now  so  great,  Whitefield  says,  "Every  heart  seems 
to  leap  for  joy  at  its  future  prospects.  Hitherto  the  bush  has 
been  burning,  but  not  consumed."  With  daily  love-feasts,  the 
chapel  was  now  a  daily  Bethel.     "With  all  deeply  interested 

in  Bethesda,  and  elated  with  the  bright  prospects,  Lord  G n 

and  the  Governor  breakfasted  with  Whitefield  at  Bethesda, 
and  he  went  and  dined  with  them  at  Savannah." 

Having  spent  "  a  blessed  winter "  of  "  peace  and  love  at 
Bethesda,"  with  "  all  the  arrears  paid  off,  cash,  stock,  and 
plenty  of  all  kinds  of  provision  on  hand,"  he  comes  now,  Feb- 


HIS   SIXTH    VISIT   TO    AMERICA.  3I3 

ruary  13,  with  all  his  melting  tenderness,  to  bid  them  good-bye, 
and  says,  "  Farewell  my  beloved  Bethesda !  surely  thou  art 
the  most  delightfully  situated  place  in  all  the  southern  col- 
onies."    May  "  peace,  love,  harmony  and  plenty  reign  here.'-' 

On  returning  to  Charleston  he  says,  "  The  people  of  all 
ranks  fly  to  the  Gospel  like  doves  to  the  windows.  Every 
day  the  Word  of  God  runs  and  is  glorified  more  and  more. 
All  are  importunate  for  my  longer  stay."  And  with  a  mutual 
attachment  so  strong,  he  says,  "  The  parting  has  been  most 
cutting  and  awful."  With  an  interest  so  deep,  a  work  so  great, 
and  a  parting  so  solemn,  he  says,  "  Words  cannot  well  express 
what  a  scene  of  action  I  leave  behind.  Alas  !  my  American 
work  seems  as  yet  scarce  begun."  He  now  had  so  many 
calls,  he  scarcely  had  time  to  dispatch  his  private  business. 
After  these  melting  parting  scenes,  he  started  on  his  "  wilder- 
ness range,"  preaching  as  he  went,  and  reached  Wilmington, 
N.  C,  March  29th.  At  the  mayor's  request  he  here  spent  a 
Sabbath,  and  says,  "  This  pilgrimage  kind  of  life  is  the  very 
joy  of  my  heart.  Ceiled  houses  and  crowded  tables  I  leave  to 
others.  A  morsel  of  bread,  and  a  little  bit  of  cold  meat  in  a 
wood,  is  a  most  luxurious  repast.  Jesus'  presence  is  all  in  all, 
whether  in  the  city  or  in  the  wilderness." 

Both  old  and  New  England  were  now  clamorous  for  his 
services.  But  with  the  foundation  of  a  college  laid  at  Beth- 
esda, and  "  all  his  outward  affairs  settled,"  he  decides  to  return 
to  England.  When  he  got  to  Newcastle,  Del.,  he  says  "All 
along  from  Charleston  to  this  place,  the  piercing  cry  is,  for 
Christ's  sake,  stay  and  preach  to  ?{s."  And  with  a  heart  gush- 
ing with  gratitude,  and  a  soul  longing  to  win  souls,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  O  for  a  thousand  lives  to  spend  for  Jesus !" 


CHAPTER     XXXI 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND. 

EJOICING  in  the  Lord,  and  crying  "  Grace ! 
grace  !"  Whitefield  again  bids  farewell  to  Amer- 
ica for  the  last  time.  Embarking  on  the  "  Hali- 
fax," at  New  York,  early  in  June,  after  a  voyage 
of  twenty-eight  days  he  reached  Falmouth, 
England,  July  5,  1765.  He  was  now  so  unwell 
he  could  neither  preach  nor  travel  but  little. 
Yet  like  Paul,  desiring  "  to  finish  his  course  with 
joy,"  he  exclaimed,  "  O,  to  end  life  zvell !  Methinks  I  have 
now  but  one  more  river  to  pass  over.  And  we  know  of  One 
that  can  carry  us  over  without  being  ankle  deep."  Though 
very  feeble,  he  reached  London  late  in  July,  and  found  his 
congregations  in  a  prosperous  condition.  But  his  health  im- 
proved. By  September  20,  he  says,  "I  have  been  better  in 
health  for  a  week  past,  than  I  have  been  for  four  years." 

Later  in  September  Lady  Huntingdon  invited  her  minis- 
ters, Messrs.  Whitefield,  Shirley,  Romaine,  Venn,  Madan  and 
Townsend,  to  the  opening  of  her  new  chapel  in  Bath.  At  her 
request,  Whitefield  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon,  October 
6,  1765,  to  an  immense  crowd,  among  whom  were  a  great 
many  of  the  nobility  by  special  invitation.  Although  slighted 
and  persecuted  by  many  others,  here  Whitefield  enjoyed  the 
friendship,  love  and  hearty  co-operation   of  the  distinguished 

Rev,  Mr.  Romaine. 

(314) 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND. 


6^0 


In  April  he  returned  to  London  and  was  able  to  preach 
three  or  four  times  a  week  with  glorious  results.  During  the 
summer  he  sometimes  preached  at  Bath  and  Bristol,  "  with 
good  seasons"  and  large  congregations,  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  He  was  now  assisted  in  London  by  Mr.  Occum,  the 
attractive  IiidicDi  preacher,  who  had  come  over  from  New  Eng- 
land to  raise  funds  for  Dr.  Wheelock's  Indian  College.  Mr 
Whitefield  took  a  very  deep  interest  in  this  good  work, 
and  nearly  £\fX>o  were  soon  raised  for  it.  Lord  Dart- 
mouth, and  even  the  king  himself,  contributed  to  it.  "  O, 
what  an  honor,"  says  Whitefield,  "  to  be  permitted  to  do  or 
suffer  anything  for  Jesus  of  Nazareth." 

With  the  interest  still  increasing,  he  says,  September  25, 
"  Many  here  seem  to  be  on  the  wing  for  God.  Had  I  wings  I 
would  gladly  fly  from  pole  to  pole ;  but  they  are  clipped  by 
thirty  years'  feeble  labors." 

On  one  occasion,  when  urging  sinners  to  Christ  and  speak- 
ing of  their  irretrievable  ruin,  he  exclaimed,  "  O,  my  God, 
when  I  think  of  this,  I  could  go  to  the  very  gates  of  heil  and 
[)reach."  Although  "  almost  breathless"  sometimes  after 
preaching  in  London  during  the  summer,  we  find  him  preach- 
ing to  very  large  and  brilliant  assemblies  of  the  rich  and  noble 
at  Bath  in  the  fall.  Here  he  says,  "the  congregations  have 
been  very  large  and  very  solemn.  O,  what  l^ethels  hath  Jesus 
given  us  !" 

His  desire  to  go  about  doing  good  was  now  so  strong  that 
he  prayed,  "  O  that  God  would  make  my  way  into  every  town 
in  England  !"  Although  this  prayer  was  not  answered,  yet  the 
s[)irit  that  indited  it  enabled  Whitefield  to  stir  the  souls  of 
stronger  men.  Upon  hearing  that  four  Methodist  parsons  were 
visiting  one  of  his  friends,  he  exclaimed :  "  Four  Methodist 
parsons !  it  is  enough  to  set  a  whole  kingdom  on  fire  when 


3l6  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD, 

Jesus  says,  Loose  them  and  let  them  go !"  This  message, 
backed  up  by  the  following  appeal,  was  deeply  felt :  "  Fie  upon 
me,  Fie  upon  me,"  says  he,  "  fifty-two  years  old  last  Saturday, 
and  yet,  O  loving  Jesus,  how  little,  yea,  how  very  little,  have  I 
done  and  suffered  for  Thee  !  Indeed  and  indeed,  iny  dear  and 
honored  friends,  I  am  ashamed  of  myself;  I  blush  and  am 
confounded.  To-morrow,  God  willing,  I  intend  to  take  the 
sacrament  upon  it,  that  I  xvill  begin  to  be  a  Christian. 
Though  I  long  to  go  to  heaven  to  see  my  glorious  Master, 
what  a  poor  figure  would  I  make  among  the  saints,  confessors 
and  martyrs  that  surround  His  throne,  without  some  deeper 
signatures  of  His  divine  impress,  and  without  more  scars  of 
Christian  honor."  "  It  was  appeals  like  this,"  says  Dr.  Philip, 
"that  made  the  Romaines  and  Venns  bestir  themselves,  and 
that  gathered  around  VVhitefield  the  Shirleys  and  DeCourcys 
of  the  time."  And  in  speaking  of  the  deep  piety  of  a  Christian 
lady  who  had  ju^t  come  to  London,  he  exclaims,  "  O  for  this 
single  eye,  this  disinterested  spirit,  this  flaming  zeal,  this  dar- 
in^""  to  be  singularly  good,  this  holy  laudable  ambition  to  lead 
the  van;  O,  it  is  heaven  upon  earth!"  To  increase  the  flame, 
in  January,  1767,  he  wrote  a  commendatory  preface  to  a  new 
edition  of  Bunyan's  Works. 

Leaving  London  in  the  spring,  with  "  a  large  plan  of  opera- 
tions," he  was  called,  March  20,  to  preach  the  opening  sermon 
at  the  dedication  of  Lady  Huntingdon's  new  chapel  at 
Brighton.  He  preached  from  2  Peter  iii.  18,  to  a  vast,  deeply 
impressed  congregation.  Thence  he  went  and  enjoyed  "  a 
sweet  gospel  excursion"  at  Cambridge  and  Norwich,  where  he 
preached  with  unusual  power.  Fearing  the  return  of  his 
inward  fever.  Lady  Huntingdon — his  best  friend — now  con- 
veyed him  in  an  easy  coach  to  Rodborough,  where  "  he  was 
regaled  with  the  company  of  some  simple-hearted  old  Meth- 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND.  31/ 

odists  of  near  thirty  years'  standing."  Inspired  with  fresh 
courage,  he  now  mounted  his  "  field  throne"  again,  and  "  with 
thousands  and  thousands  attending,  they  had  very  precious 
seasons  at  Rodborough."  "  Lady  Huntingdon  was  wonder- 
fully delighted."  While  laboring  here  under  disease,  he 
exclaimed,  "  O  when  shall  I  be  unclothed !  When,  O,  my 
God,  shall  I  be  clothed  upon !  But  I  am  a  coward,  and  want 
to  be  housed  before  the  storm." 

After  "  a  most  blessed  season"  at  Gloucester,  late  in  May, 
he  went  to  Haverford-west,  in  Wales — where  "  thousands  and 
thousands  attended  to  hear  him  from  \{\?,  field  tJirone  by  eight 
in  the  morning.  Life  and  light  seemed  to  fly  all  around." 
He  returned,  "  quite  worn  down,"  and  exclaimed,  "  What  a 
scene  last  Sunday  !  What  a  cry  for  more  of  the  bread  of  life!" 
Still  longing  "to  be  a  flame  of  fire,"  he  returned  to  London 
in  July,  and  resumed  "his  Thursday  morning  6  o'clock  Taber- 
nacle Lectures,"  with  crowded  houses.  With  "a  Methodist 
field  street-preaching  plan  before  him,"  he  now  made  another 
excursion  to  Yorkshire,  preaching  as  he  went  at  Northampton 
and  Sheffield,  At  Newcastle,  September  20,  he  said,  "  I  am 
well.  My  delightful  itinerancy  is  good  for  both  my  body  and 
soul.  My  body  feels  much  fatigued  in  traveling,  but  comforts 
in  the  soul  over-balance."  And  after  preaching  at  several 
places  in  the  street  with  "  golden  seasons,"  he  says,  "  Every 
stage  more  and  more  convinces  me  that  old  Methodism  is  the 
thing  after  all.  Hallelujah  !  Come,  Lord,  come  !"  '*  Good 
old  work,  good  old  seasons !"  Greatly  blessed  is  his  labors, 
and  improved  in  health  by  street-preaching,  in  October  he  re- 
turned to  winter-quarters  in  London,  praising  the  Lord.  Hav- 
ing no  riding  to  do  now,  he  was  tempted  "to  nestle,"  but  re- 
calling his  old  motto,  "iVb  nestling  this  side  heaveti"  he  pressed 
on,  went  out  and  preached  at  the  Tabernacle  to  "  the  society 


3l8  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

for  promoting  religious  knowledge  among  the  poor."  His 
text  was,  "  Thy  kingdom  come,"  and  with  an  immense  congre- 
gation, he  preached  with  unusually  great  fervor  and  power. 
The  collection  reached  over  ;$500,  and  was  over  four  times  as 
much  as  usual,  besides  eighty  new  annual  subscribers.  Nearly 
all  the  dissenting  ministers  of  London  attended  and  dined 
with  him.  With  the  ties  of  Christian  fellowship  strengthened, 
all  seemed  well  pleased. 

His  project  for  a  college  at  Bethesda  was  now  coming  to 
an  issue,  and  he  awaited  the  result  with  deep  interest.  He  had 
petitioned  the  king,  setting  forth  to  his  majesty  the  great  de- 
mand for  such  an  institution  in  the  Southern  Provinces,  that 
he  had  already  expended  about  560,000  on  Bethesda,  and  now 
prayed  for  a  charter  similar  to  that  of  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey. This  petition  was  sent  through  Lord  Dartmouth  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  sent  it  to  the  premier,  who 
decided  "  that  the  head  of  the  college  should  be  an  Episco- 
palian, and  its  prayers  the  established  forms."  But  these 
narrow  restrictions  did  not  suit  the  broad,  large-hearted  views 
of  Whitefield.  And  as  nearly  all  the  money  raised  for  Beth- 
esda had  come  from  Protestant  dissenters,  and  as  he  had  prom- 
ised that  "the  intended  college  should  be  founded  on  a  broad 
bottom,"  he  could  not  conscientiously  agree  to  make  it  exclu- 
sively Episcopalian.  He  said,  "  I  would  sooner  cut  my  head 
off  than  betray  my  trust,  by  confining  it  to  a  narrow  bottom." 
He  concluded,  therefore,  to  make  "  a  public  academy."  This 
affair  and  the  reforming  of  "a  little  college  of  outcasts"  now 
gave  him  so  much  trouble  that  he  said,  "none  but  God  knows 
what  a  concern  lies  upon  me." 

At  Bath  early  in   December,  1767,  Whitefield  preached  at 

the  funeral  of  the  Earl  of  B n,  with  great  solemnity.     His 

subject    was    "The    blessed  dead."      With  earls,  countesses, 


HIS  LAST  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  3I9 

lords  and  ladies,  present  as  "noble  mourners,"  together 
with  hundreds  of  the  nobihty  and  gentry,  "all  was  hushed  and 
solemn."  "Attention  sat  on  every  face,"  reverence  and  awe 
filled  every  heart.  For  five  days,  they  had  two  sermons  a  day 
with  the  deepest  interest.  With  many  anguished  hearts,  weep- 
ing eyes  and  hopeful  conversions,  he  says,  "  I  never  expect  to 
see  such  a  like  scene  again  this  side  eternity."  Passing  over 
to  Bristol,  the  congregations  were  so  large,  and  the  effect  so 
deep,  "  thousands  went  away  for  want  of  room." 

1768.  He  entered  upon  the  year  1768  lamenting  his  bar--' 
renness,  saying,  "  Did  you  ever  hear  of  such  a  fifty-three  year 
old  barren  fig-tree  ?  So  much  digging,  so  much  dunging,  and 
yet  so  little  fruit  ?  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !  A  sin- 
ner— a  sinner — a  sinner."  Yet  with  shouts  of "  Hallelujahs,  ■ 
and  praying,  '  come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly,'  "  to  stir  uj) 
some  halting,  faint-hearted  brethren,  he  said,  "  Go  forward,  go 
forward,  and  never  mind  the  envious  cry  of  elder  brethren." 

WHITEFIELD    DEFENDS    PERSECUTED    STUDENTS. 

On  March  12,  1768,  six  pious  students  of  Edmund  Hall, 
Oxford  University,  were  expelled  from  that  noted  institution 
"  for  holding  Methodistical  tenets,"  "  whose  only  crimes," 
says  Tyerman,  "  were  that  some  of  them  had  been  ignobly 
bred,  and  all  had  sung  and  prayed  and  read  the  scriptures  in 
private  houses."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon,  principal  of  the  hall, 
defended  their  orthodoxy,  "  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  their 
piety  and  exemplary  lives,"  but  the  Rev.  Dr.  Durell,  the  Vice 
Chancellor  of  the  University,  heeded  him  not,  and  pronounced 
the  unmerciful  sentence  of  expulsion.  Filled  with  indignation 
at  this  tyrannical  and  execrable  act,  Whitefield,  with  his  tender 
compassion,  rushed  to  tlieir  defence,  and  wrote  a  long  letter, 
expostulating  with  the  chancellor,  telling  iiim  how  "  God  hath 


320  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  mighty." 
Aroused  by  this  "  Oxford  bull,"  five  months  after  this  expul 
sion  Lady  Huntingdon  opened  a  college  at  Trevecca,  in 
Wales,  to  train  young  men  for  the  ministry.  Whitefield 
preached  the  opening  sermon  August  24,  and  Mr.  Fletcher  was 
made  president. 

In  June  he  went  to  Scotlmid  iox  ihc  fifteenth  and  last  time, 
and  found  a  stirring  among  his  old  friends  and  spiritual  chil- 
dren in  Edinburgh,  seeking  their  first  love.  With  congrega- 
tions as  large,  attentive  and  as  affectionate  as  ever,  he  says,  "  I 
am  here  only  in  danger  of  being  hugged  to  death.  Friends  of 
all  rank  seem  heartier  and  more  friendly  than  ever.  All  is  of 
grace."  This  shows  how  well  Mr.  Whitefield  wore  among  his 
friends.  Though  "  worn  down  by  preaching  abroad  and  talk- 
ing at  home,"  he  says,  "  everything  here  goes  on  better  and 
better."  And  with  occasional  "  Hallelujahs"  bursting  from  his 
pious  soul,  he  exclaimed,  "O,  to  die  in  the  field  !" 

HIS  wife's  death. 

Still  striving  "  to  stir  and  fly  as  formerly,"  late  in  July  he 
took  his  final  melting  leave  of  Scotland  and  returned  to  Lon- 
don. And  now,  "while  engaged  in  maturing  Trevecca  College, 
and  opening  chapels  for  Lady  Huntingdon,"  his  wife  suddenly 
took  an  inflammatory  fever,  and  died  August  9,  1768.  Mr. 
Whitefield  preached  her  funeral  sermon  on  the  14th,  from 
Romans  viii.  20.  Touching  her  death,  he  said,  on  the  i6th, 
"The  late  very  unexpected  breach  is  a  fresh  proof  that  the 
night  coxTieth  when  no  man  can  work."  Enjoying  the  sancti- 
fication  of  his  loss,  he  exclaimed,  ".Sweet  bereavements,  when 
God  fills  up  the  chasm!  Through  mercy  I  find  it  so."  Miss- 
ing her  much,  he  said,  six  months  after,  "  I  feel  the  loss  of  my 
right  hand  daily."     He  erected  a  neat  marble  monument  to  her 


HIS  LAST  LABORS  IN  ENGLAND.  321 

memory  in  Tottenham  Court  Chapel.  He  now  labored  so  hard 
in  opening  colleges  and  dedicating  churches  for  Lady  Hunting- 
don, that  he  not  only  "burst  a  vein,"  but  was  thrown  into  such 
a  severe  flux  that  he  was  compelled  to  keep  silent  several  days. 

Although  Whitefield's  whole  Christian  life  was  a  continual 
Christ-like  sacrifice,  yet  as  he  approached  his  latter  end,  his  zeal 
seemed  to  increase.  And  while,  through  excessive  labor  and 
pain,  his  body  had  been  brought  very  low  towards  the  close  of 
the  year,  so  that  he  could  not  preach,  yet  with  his  enraptured 
soul  exulting  in  the  expectation  of  a  speedy  departure,  he  en- 
tered upon  the  new  year,  1769,  with  repeated  hallelujahs,  and 
praying  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  By  the  following 
spring  his  health  was  so  much  improved  he  was  able  to  preach 
three  or  four  times  a  week.  Rejoiced  at  seeing  a  number  of 
the  nobility  unite  with  Lady  Huntingdon's  society,  hq,  says, 
"Some  more  coronets,  I  hear,  are  likely  to  be  laid  at  the 
Redeemer's  feet.  They  glitter  gloriously  when  set  in  and  sur- 
rounded with  a  crown  of  thorns." 

After  enjoying  "delightful  passover  feasts"  at  London,  in 
April  he  made  an  excursion  to  Bath  and  Bristol,  with  "  good, 
precious  seasons  everywhere."  On  his  return  he  preached  at 
Bradford,  Trome,  Chippenham,  Rodborough,  Castlecourt  and 
Dursley,  "with  blessed  results."  At  Trome  he  says,  "we  had 
a  blessed  day  in  the  fields :  thousands  attended,  and  all  was 
more  than  solemn."  At  Rodborough  they  had  a  real  "  Pente- 
cost." "  Never  was  that  place  so  endeared  to  me  as  at  this  visit." 
Encouraged  with  many  hopeful  conversions  during  this  fruitful 
campaign,  in  May  he  returned  to  London  with  a  heart  gushing 
with  gratitude  and  joy. 

On  July  23,  1769,  he  dedicated  another  new  chapel  for  Lady 

Huntingdon    at   Tunbridge    Wells,  a   popular  watering   place 
21 


322  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

abuLiL  twenty  miles  from  London.     Here  he  preached  one  of 
his  most  eloquent  sermons,  from  Gen.  xxviii.  17. 

Rejoicing  in  the  prosperity  of  Bethesda,  he  says,  "a  lasting, 
ample  foundation  is  now  laid  there  for  the  future  support  and 
education  of  both  rich  and  poor."  And  being  very  anxious  to 
see  after  his  poor  orphans  and  his  school  there,  he  now  began 
to  prepare  for  another  voyage  across  the  Atlantic.  Filled  with 
joy  in  view  of  his  si^eedily  entering  "an  eternal  harbor,"  he 
said,  "  Glory  be  to  God,  all  sublunary  coasting  will  soon  be 
over." 

HIS    FAREWELL   TO    ENGLAND. 

As  the  solcninities  of  parting  drew  near,  he  said,  "  Talk  not 
of  taking  a  personal  leave.  You  know  my  make.  Paul  could 
stand  a  whipping,  but  not  a  weeping  farewell."  So  it  was  with 
Whitefield.  His  affection  for  his  London  churches  was  so 
strong  that  when  he  went  out  to  preach  his  farewell  sermon, 
he  said,  "  It  seemed  like  going  out  to  be  executed.  I  would 
rather,  was  it  the  will  of  God,  it  should  be  so,  than  to  feel  what 
I  do  in  parting  from  you ;  then  death  would  put  an  end  to  all : 
but  I  am  to  be  executed  again  and  again,  and  nothing  will  sup- 
port me  under  the  torture,  but  the  consideration  of  God's 
blessing  me  to  some  poor  souls."  After  "this  most  awful  part- 
ing season,"  with  his  melting  farewell  sermon  at  both  churches, 
from  Genesis  xxviii.  12-15,  he  rc^i^ched  Gravescnd,  September 
2,  1769,  accompanied  with  a  host  of  friends  "as  dear  to  him  as 
his  own  soul."  The  next  day,  Ids  last  day  in  England,  he 
preached  three  times;  once  in  "the  Methodist  tabernacle,"  and 
twice  in  Gravesend  Market-house,  and  says,  "Our  parting 
solemnities  have  been  exceedingly  awful,  and  I  thank  God  for 
giving  me  the  honor  of  taking  my  leave  on  Sunday  afternoon 
at  Gravesend  Market  Place.    O  for  this  rambling  way  of  preach- 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    ENGLAND.  323 

ing  till  I  die."  Exclaiming,  "O  Fjigland!  England!''  and 
praying,  "God  preserve  thee,"  he  now  got  aboard  the  "Friend- 
ship," Capt.  Ball,  bound  for  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  The 
next  day,  September  4th,  he  says,  "  I  had  my  dear  Christian 
friends  on  board  to  breakfast  with  me.  The  conversation  was 
sweet,  but  the  parting  bitter.  O  these  partings!  Without 
divine  support  they  would  be  intolerable.  What  mean  you, 
said  the  apostle,  to  weep  and  break  my  heart?  However, 
through  infinite  mercy,  I  was  helped  to  bear  up ;  and  after  their 
departure,  the  divine  presence  made  up  the  loss  of  all."  His 
friends,  Messrs.  C.  Winter  and  Smith,  sailed  with  him.  He 
was  now  in  such  good  health  and  spirits,  that  although  this 
was  his  thirteenth  and  last  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  he  said, 
September  6th,  "  Hitherto  it  seems  like  the  first.  I  seem^to  be 
now  as  I  was  thirty  yeafs  ago."  He  was  detained  in  the 
Downs  by  contrary  winds  nearly  a  month,  and  preached  as 
opportunity  favored.  His  last  sermon  was  on  the  15th  of  Sep- 
tember, to  a  deeply  affected  audience  at  Ramsgate.  The  same 
day.  he  received  a  surreptitious  copy  of  his  Tabernacle  farewell 
sermon  taken  down  in  short-hand  and  published  very  inaccu- 
rately. It  made  him  .speak  nonsense.  Yet  with  his  heroic 
devotion,  he  said,  "  If  one  sentence  is  blessed  to  the  conviction 
of  a  single  individual,  I  care  not  what  becomes  of  my  charac- 
ter." Although  they  were  tossed  about  so  long  in  the  Downs, 
yet  with  a  heart  gushing  with  "Ebcnezers  and  halldujahs,"  he 
says,  "All  is  well.  I  am  comforted  on  every  side."  At  last  a 
favorable  gale  rises,  and  away  they  go,  and  with  a  long,  linger- 
ing gaze,  methinks  I  hear  him  say,  "Farewell,  farewell 
England!     May  God  bless  thee." 


CHAPTER     XXXII 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    AMERICA. 

FTER  a  long  perilous  voyage  of  over  two 
months,  he  reached  Charleston,  November  30, 
1769-  and  says  "Our  reception  was  heartier 
than  ever.  Friends  received  me  most  cordi- 
ally. Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  for- 
get not  all  His  mercies.  Oh  !  to  begin  to  be 
a  Christian  and  a  minister  of  Jesus."  With 
his  health  renewed,  he  preached  in  Charleston 
the  same  day  he  arrived,  and  daily  for  ten  successive  days, 
wrth  great  success.  Upon  hearing  that  "  all  was  in  great  for- 
wardness at  Bethesda,"  he  exclaimed,  "God  be  praised,  heaven 
is  in  sight."  After  visiting  his  old  friend  Mr.  Habersham,  at 
Savannah,  he  reached  Bethesda,  January  11,  1770,  and  says, 
"Every  thing  here  exceeds  my  most  sanguine  expectation. 
The  increase  of  this  colony  is  almost  incredible."  "I  am 
almost  tempted  to  say  it  is  good  to  be  here;  but  all  must 
give  way  to  Gospel  ranging."  Two  new  large  wings  had 
already  been  added  to  the  Orphan  House,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  students,  and  besides  having  secured  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  the  Governor  "  for  the  establishment  of  his  in- 
tended college,"  he  was  now  further  encouraged  by  an  expres- 
sion of  sympathy  and  respect  from  the  legislature  of  the  col- 
ony, as  seen  by  the  following  papers  : 

(324) 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN   AMERICA.  325 

"CoM^«x^s  House  of  Assembly,  Monday,  Jan.  29,  1770. 
"Mr.  Speaker  reported  that  he,  with  the  House,  having  waited  on  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitefield,  in  consequence  of  his  invitation,  at  the  Oi"phan  House  Academy, 
heard  hira  preach  a  very  suitable  sermon  on  the  occasion;  and  with  great  pleas- 
ure observed  the  promising  appearance  of  improvement  toward  the  good  pur- 
poses intended,  and  the  decency  and  propriety  of  behavior  of  the  several  residents 
there ;  and  were  sensibly  affected  when  they  saw  the  happy  success  which  has 
attended  Whitefield's  indefatigable  zeal  for  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  province 
in  general,  and  the  Orphan  House  in  particular.  Ordered,  that  this  report  be 
printed  in  the  Gazette.  John  Simpson,  Clerk.'' 

The  Gazette  says : 

"Savannah,  Jan.  31,  1770. 
"  Last  Sunday,  his  excellency,  the  Governor,  Council  and  Assembly,  having 
been  invited  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  attended  divine  service  in  the  chapel  of 
the  Orphan-house  Academy,  where  a  very  suitable  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  from  Zech.  iv.  10,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  auditory. 
After  divine  service,  the  company  were  very  politely  entertained  with  a  handsome 
and  plentiful  dinner  ;  and  were  greatly  pleased  to  see  the  useful  improvements 
made  in  the  house,  the  two  additional  wings  for  apartments  for  students,  150  feet 
each  in  length,  and  other  lesser  buildings,  in  so  much  forwardness  ;  they  expressed 
their  gratitude  in  the  most  respectful  terms." 

We  give  an  extract  from  an  orphan  boy's  speech,  delivered 
on  this  occasion,  after  Whitefield's  sermon.  After  sketching 
the  history  of  Bethesda,  he  says,  "  Behold  the  once  despised 
institution  ! — the  very  existence  of  which  for  many  years  de- 
nied,— through  the  indefatigable  industry,  unparalleled  disinter- 
estedness, and  unwearied  perseverance  of  its  reverend  founder, 
expanding  and  stretching  its  wings,  not  only  to  receive  a 
larger  number  of  helpless  orphans  like  myself,  but  to  nurse 
and  cherish  many  of  the  rising  generation,  training  them  up 
to  be  ornaments  both  in  Church  and  State.  Forever  adored 
be  that  providence,  that  power  and  goodness,  which  have 
brought  matters  to  such  a  desirable  and  long-expected  issue !" 
After  thanking  all   for   their   attendance,   he   turned   to    Mr. 


326  LIFE    OF   WniTKFIKLD. 

Whitefield  and  said,  "And,  above  all,  thanks,  more  than  an 
orphan  tongue  can  utter,  or  orphan  hearts  conceive,  be  under 
God,  rendered  unto  you,  most  honored  sir,  who  have  been  so 
happily  instrumental  in  the  hands  of  a  never-failing  God,  in 
spreading  His  everlasting  Gospel. 

Under  these  bright  prospects,  after  visiting  Charleston  and 
Savannah,  upon  returning  to  Bethesda  in  April,  his  .peace 
seemed  to  flow  like  a  river.  He  says,  "  Never  did  I  enjoy 
such  domestic  peace,  comfort  and  joy  during  my  whole  pil- 
grimage. It  is  unspeakable,  it  is  full  of  glory.  Peace,  peace 
unutterable,  attends  our  paths,  and  a  pleasing  prospect  of  in- 
creasing, useful  prosperity,  is  continually  rising  to  our  view." 
Still  increasing  in  joy,  he  begins  his  next  letter  with  "  Hallelu- 
jah! Praise  the  Lord!"  And  upon  taking  in  ten  more  little 
orphans,  he  was  so  much  overjoyed,  he  exclaimed,  "  Prizes  ! 
prizes  !  Hallelujah,"  begging  his  friends  to  help  him  praise  the 
Lord  for  His  mercies.  Wrought  up  by  the  grandeur  and 
glory  of  this  blessed  consummation,  with  his  heart  still  swelling 
with  gratitude  and  joy,  he  exclaimed,  "  O  Bethesda,  my  Bethel, 
my  Peniel !  My  happiness  is  inconceivable.  Hallelujah  ! 
Hallelujah  !  Let  chapel,  Tabernacle,  heaven,  and  earth, 
rebound  with  Hallelujah  !  I  can  no  more.  My  heart  is  too 
big  to  add  more  than  my  old  name.  Less  than  the  least  of 
all,  G.  W." 

Having  "  now  spent  the  most  comfortable  domestic  winter 
of  his  life,"  he  left  Bethesda,  embarked  for  Philadelphia  April 
24th,  and  reached  it  May  the  6th,  "  more  and  more  in  love 
with  his  pilgrim  life  than  ever."  He  preached  the  next  even- 
ing tp  a  very  large  congregation,  and  says,  "  Pulpits,  hearts 
and  affections  seem  to  be  as  open  towards  me  as  ever."  After 
preaching  here  five  or  six  times  a  week  with  great  success  for 
about  three  weeks,  he  says,  "  people  of  all  ranks  flock  as  much 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN    AMERICA.  32/ 

as  ever."  And  with  many  hopeful  conversions,  with  all  the 
Episcopal  and  nearly  all  the  other  churches  thrown  open  to 
him,  he  was  very  much  encouraged. 

With  his  health  "  rather  better  than  for  many  years,"  he 
now  began  to  explore  the  region  round  about  Philadelphia. 
In  a  letter  of  June  14,  1770,  to  his  dear  friend  Keen,  he  says, 
"This  leaves  me  just  returned  from  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
circuit,  in  which,  blessed  be  God !  I  have  been  enabled  to  preach 
every  day."  He  now  had  so  many  calls  to  go  and  preach,  he 
says,  "  I  know  not  which  way  to  turn  myself." 

NEW   YORK. 

Ffom  Philadelphia,  June  23,  he  went  to  New  York.  Here 
he  says,  "  Congregations  are  rather  larger  than  ever."  Though 
the  heat  was  intense,  he  was  now  able  "  to  itinerate  and  preach 
daily."  He  now  received  so  many  invitations  from  all  quarters 
daily,  he  sent  a  bundle  of  them  to  England  as  a  curiosity. 
Moved  with  compassion  toward  the  "Poor  Indian,"  he  now 
purposed  to  attend  a  large  Indian  congress  with  Mr.  Kirkland. 
With  his  missionary  spirit  increasing,  he  now  struck  out  on 
"fresh  zuork','  and  during  the  month  of  July  he  made  another 
five  hundred  miles  circuit,  "  preaching  and  traveling  through 
•the  heat  every  day."  "  Congregations,"  he  says,  "  have  been 
very  large,  attentive  and  affected,  particularly  at  Albany, 
Schenectady,  Great  Barrington,  Norfolk,  Salisbury,  Sharon, 
Smithfield,  Poughkeepsie,  Fishkill,  New  Rumbert,  New  Wind- 
sor, and  Peckshilt.  O  what  a  new  scene  of  usefulness  is  open- 
ing in  various  parts  of  this  new  world !  All  fresh  work. 
Invitations  crowd  upon  me  both  from  ministers  and  people 
from  every  quarter." 

Led  by  a  peculiar  providence,  he  now  attended  the  execution 
of  a  horse  thief     He  says,  "  thousands  attended.     The  poor 


328  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

criminal  had  sent  me  several  letters.  The  sheriff  allowed  him 
to  come  and  hear  a  sermon  under  an  adjacent  tree.  Solenni, 
solemn!  After  being  by  himself  about  an  hour,  I  walked  half 
a  mile  with  him  to  the  gallows.  His  heart  had  been  softened 
before  my  first  visit.  He  seemed  full  of  solid  divine  consola- 
tions. An  instructive  walk.  I  went  up  with  him  into  the 
cart.  He  gave  a  short  exhortation."  Standing  upon  his 
coffin,  Whitefield  exhorted,  prayed,  pronounced  the  benedic- 
tion, and  retired,  trusting  that  "  effectual  good"  had  been  done 
to  all. 

From  New  York  he  went  to  Boston.  Here  the  interest  was 
so  great,  he  says,  "  Never  was  the  Word  received  with  greater 
eagerness  than  now.  All  opposition  seems  for  a  while  to 
cease."  Here  he  preached  daily  from  the  17th  to  the  20th  of 
September,  and  having  stood  the  heat  and  labor  so  well,  on 
the  2 1st  he  started  on  another  excursion.  Upon  reaching 
Newbury,  he  was  taken  with  such  a  severe  flux,  he  was 
obliged  to  return.  But  recovering  somewhat  in  a  few  days,  he 
set  off  again  to  Portsmouth,  he  says,  *' to  begin  to  begin  again!' 
On  reaching  Portsmouth,  he  sat  down  and  wrote  his  Last  let- 
ter. It  is  dated  September  23,  1770,  and  directed  to  his  very 
dear  friend,  Mr.  R.  Keen.  He  says,  "  By  this  time  I  thought 
to  be  moving  southward.  But  never  was  greater  importunity 
used  to  detain  me  in  these  northern  parts.  You  will  see  by 
the  many  invitations  what  a  door  is  opened  for  preaching  the 
everlasting  gospel.  I  was  so  ill  on  Friday  that  I  could  not 
preach,  though  thousands  were  waiting  to  hear.  Well,  the 
day  of  release  will  shortly  come,  but  it  does  not  seem  yet ;  for, 
by  riding  sixty  miles,  I  am  better,  and  hope  to  preach  here  to- 
morrow. I  trust  my  blessed  Master  will  accept  of  these  poor 
efforts  to  serve  Him.  O  for  a  warm  heart ;  O  to  stand  fast  in 
the  faith,  to  quit  ourselves  like  men,  and  be  strong.     May  this 


HIS    LAST    LABORS    IN   AMERICA.  329. 

be  the  happy  experience  of  you  and  yours.  Earnestly  desir- 
ing a  continued  interest  in  all  your  prayers,  I  hasten  to  sub- 
scribe myself,  my  dear,  very  dear  sir.  Less  than  the  least  of 
all,  G.  W." 

HIS    LAST   SERMON. 

After  preaching  at  Kittery  and  York,  and  daily,  for  a  week, 
at  Portsmouth,  on  Saturday  morning,  September  29,  he  set  out 
for  Boston.  Before  reaching  Newburyport,  where  he  had 
agreed  to  preach  the  next  Sabbath  morning,  he  was  prevailed 
upon  to  stop  and  preach  by  the  way  at  Exeter,  fifteen  miles  from 
Portsmouth.  To  accommodate  the  multitudes  that  collected 
on  a  very  short  notice,  he  preached  in  the  open  air,  and  con- 
tinued his  sermon  nearly  two  hours,  which  so  greatly  fatigued 
him  that  he  could  not  get  out  of  the  ferry  boat  without  two 
men's  assistance.  This  proved  his  last  sermon.  It  was  from  ^ 
2  Cor.  xiii.  5.  "His  subject  was  a  contrast  of  the  present  with 
the  future."  When  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  he  was  so  unwell  it 
was  thought  almost  impossible  for  him  to  speak.  Mr.  Clarkson 
said  to  him,  "Sir,  you  are  more  fit  to  go  to  bed  than  to 
preach."  He  replied,  "  True,  sir,"  but  turning  aside,  he  clasped 
his  hands  together,  and  looking  up,  said,  "  Lord  Jesus,  I  am 
weary  i/i  Thy  work,  but  not  0/  Thy  work.  If  I  have  not 
finished  my  course,  let  me  go  and  speak  for  Thee  once  more 
in  the  fields,  seal  Thy  truth,  and  come  home  and  die."  "At 
length,"  says  an  eye  witness,  "  he  arose  from  his  seat,  and  stood 
erect.  Thin  and  pale  as  death,  his  appearance  alone  was  a 
powerful  sermon."  After  standing  several  minutes  unable  to 
speak,  he  said,  "  I  will  wait  for  the  gracious  assistance  of  God, 
for  He  will,  I  am  certain,  assist  me  once  more  to  speak  in  His 
name."  Speaking  with  wonderful  pathos  and  power,  he  then 
delivered  one  of  his  most  impressive  sermons.  Towards  the 
close  he  said,  "  I  go,  I  go  to  rest  prepared ;  my  sun  has  arisen. 


330  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

and,  by  aid  from  heaven,  given  light  to  many;  'tis  now  about  to 
set  for — no,  it  cannot  be !  but  'tis  to  rise  to  the  zenith  of  im- 
mortal glory.  I  have  outlived  many  on  earth,  but  they  cannot 
outlive  me  in  heaven.  Many  shall  live  when  this  body  is  no 
more,  but  then — Oh,  thought  divine — I  shall  be  in  a  world 
where  time,  age,  sickness  and  sorrow  are  unknown.  My  body 
{2i\\s,  7ny  spirit  expands  ;  how  willingly  would  I  live  forever  to 
preach  Christ!  but  T  die  to  be  with  Him.  How  brief,  compar- 
atively brief,  has  been  my  life,  compared  with  the  vast  labors  I 
see  before  me  yet  to  be  accomplished ;  but  if  I  leave  now, 
while  so  few  care  about  heavenly  things,  the  God  of  peace  will 
surely  visit  you."  He  now  had  such  a  sweet  foretaste  of 
heaven,  that  it,  says  Mr.  Parsons,  "  made  his  countenance  shine 
like  the  unclouded  sun."  He  delivered  this  sermon  with  such 
clearness,  pathos  and  power  that  it  greatly  surprised  the  great 
congregation.  He  said,  "  He  hoped  it  was  the  last  sermon  he 
should  ever  preach."  And  so  it  was.  It  was  preached  at  the 
request  of  Rev,  Daniel  Rodgers,  a  descendant  of  John  Rodgers, 
the  martyr. 

HIS    PERSONAL   APPEARANCE, 

With  his  sweet,  noble  countenance,  bright,  dark  blue  eyes, 
and  fair  complexion,  Whitefield  had  a  fine  presence.  His  tender, 
weeping  eyes  were  very  expressive.  In  recovering  from  the 
measles  he  contracted  a  squint  in  one  of  them,  which,  instead 
of  detracting,  rather  added  to  the  expression  of  his  counte- 
nance. Being  rather  above  the  medium  height,  well  propor- 
tioned, and  very  graceful  and  easy  in  his  manners,  his  personal 
appearance  was  very  prepossessing.  And,  says  Dr.  Wakely, 
"  he  had  an  eloquent  face,  every  feature  of  which  spoke  to  his 
audience.  His  eyes  spoke  volumes."  His  voice  was  exceed- 
ingly strong,  sweet  and  melodious.     'Tis   said   he  could   be 


ms    LAST    LABORS    IN    AMERICA.  33 1 

heard  a  mile.  His  intonations  were  so  perfect  that  Garrick 
says,  "he  could  make  men  weep  or  tremble  by  his  varied  utter- 
ances of  the  word  Mesopotamia."  His  action,  also,  was  exceed- 
ingly graceful.  "So  that  withal,"  says  Dr.  Philip,  "his  face  was 
a  language,  his  intonations  music,  and  his  action  passion." 

He  was  also  veiy  neat  and  particular  in  his  person,  and 
everything  about  him.  He  had  a  place  for  everything,  and 
everything  in  its  place.  He  would  not  even  go  to  bed  with  a 
glove  out  of  place.  John  Wesley  says  of  him,  "  How  few  have 
we  known  of  so  kind  a  temper,  of  such  large  and  flowing  affec- 
tions." Hence,  says  Toplady,  he  had  "the  brightest  cheerful- 
ness." He  was  very  slender  when  young,  but  became  corpu- 
lent about  forty.  His  table  was  neat  and  plain.  "A  cow-heel 
was  his  favorite  dish." 

wiiitefield's  sermons. 

It  is  admitted  that  Whitefield's  printed  sermona  generally 
fail  to  exhibit  his  great  powers  of  oratory.  This  is  true  of 
many  great  orators.  It  only  proves  that  their  eloquence  con- 
sisted much  in  their  manner  of  delivery.  It  was  so  with 
Whitefield.  His  holy  ardor  and  melting  power  could  not  be 
expressed  on  paper.  To  be  felt,  it  must  be  seen.  Besides, 
many  of  his  sermons  were  hastily  written  while  he  was  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic.  Others  he  did  not  write  at  all.  They  were 
taken  down  in  short  hand  and  published  daily,  as  he  preached 
them.  But  with  his  masterly  skill,  Whitefield,  like  Jesus, 
always  adapted  his  sermons  to  the  occasion.  This  gave  him 
power.  They  are  all  full  of  points  and  arrows.  And  blest  of 
God,  they  proved  "  quick  and  powerful,"  and  cut  like  light- 
ning. Like  a  mighty  wave  they  swept  everything  before 
them.  "It  was  like  putting  fire  in  tinder."  The  great  doc- 
trines he  preached,  though  common  to  us  now,  were  generally 


332  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

new  to  his  hearers  then.  And  while  some  of  his  sermons 
are  quite  "commonplace,"  others  are  very  touching,  eloquent 
and  powerful.  Although  they  do  not  possess  the  beauty  of 
Robert  Hall,  the  strength  of  Edwards,  nor  the  grandeur  of 
Chalmers,  yet  flashing  with  life,  love,  joy  and  power,  they  pro- 
duced a  most  wonderful  effect.  Abounding  with  rich  relig- 
ious experience,  and  glowing  with  tender  compassion,  and  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  Cross,  enforced  with  the  most  striking 
illustrations,  they  are  the  most  stirring,  eloquent  and  powerful 

..sermons  we  ever  read.  We  have  often  read  them  with  pro- 
fuse weeping.  We  can  scarcely  see  how  any  Christian  can 
read  them  without  tears.  They  contain  the  very  truths,  the 
best  calculated  of  all,  to   move  the  will,  arouse   the   affections 

■and  win  the  heart.  Reading  one  of  them  resulted  in  the  con- 
version of  Rev.  James  Hervey — reading  another  resulted  in 
the  conversion  of  Rev.  Andrew  Kinsman.  And  the  reading 
of  a  few  of  them  resulted  in  organizing  several  churches,  and 
the  founding  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia. Here  the  effect  of  their  reading  was  so  great,  that  the 
people  "could  not  keep  from  crying  out  and  weeping  bitterly." 
We  give  a  few  extracts  from  his  written  sermons — '^Beseeching 
sinners!'  "O,  my  brethren,  my  heart  is  enlarged  towards  you. 
I  trust  I  feel  something  of  that  hidden  but  powerful  presence 
of  Christ,  while  I  am  preaching  to  you.  Indeed,  it  is  sweet,  it 
is  exceedingly  comfortable.  All  the  harm  I  wish  you,  who 
without  cause  are  my  enemies,  is,  that  you  felt  the  like. 
Believe  me,  though  it  would  be  hell  to  my  soul,  to  return  to 
a  natural  state,  yet  I  would  willingly  change  states  with  you 
for  a  little  while,  that  you  might  know  what  it  is  to  have 
Christ  dwelling  in  your  hearts  by  faith.  Do  not  turn  your 
backs ;  do  not  let  the  devil  hurry  you  away.  I  cannot,  I  will 
not  let  you  go ;  stay  a  little^  let  us  reason  together.     However 


HIS    LAST    LARORS    IN    AMERICA.  333 

lightly  you  may  esteem  your  souls,  I  know  our  Lord  has  set 
an  unspeakable  value  on  them.  I  have  offered  you  Christ's 
whole  wisdom,  Christ's  whole  righteousness,  Christ's  whole 
sanctification  and  eternal  redemption,  if  you  will  but  be- 
lieve on  Him.  Come  then,  ye  harlots ;  come,  ye  pub- 
licans, come,  yc  most  abandoned  of  sinners,  come  and  be- 
lieve on  Jesus  Christ.  O  let  there  be  joy  in  heaven  over 
some  of  you  repenting!  An  awful  silence  appears  amongst 
us.  Behold,  I  come  to  you  as  the  angel  did  to  Lot.  Flee, 
flee  for  your  lives ;  haste,  linger  no  longer  in  your  spirit- 
ual Sodom,  for  otherwise  you  will  be  eternally  destroyed." 
Again,  when  preaching  on  glorifying  God  in  the  fires,  Isa. 
xxiv.  15,  he  said,  "When  I  was,  some  years  ago,  at  Shields,  I 
went  into  a  glass-house,  and  standing  very  attentively,  I  saw 
several  masses  of  burning  glass  of  various  forms.  The  work- 
man took  one  piece  of  glass  and  put  it  into  one  furnace,  then 
he  put  it  into  a  second,  and  then  into  a  third.  I  asked  him 
'  why  do  you  put  that  into  so  many  fires  ?'  He  answered  me, 
'Oh,  sir,  the  first  was  not  hot  enough,  nor  the  second,  and 
therefore  we  put  it  into  the  third,  and  that  will  make  it  trans- 
parent.' 'Oh,'  thought  I,  'does  this  man  put  this  glass  into 
one  furnace  after  another,  that  it  may  be  rendered  perfect? 
Oh,  my  God,  put  me  into  one  furnace  after  another,  that  my 
soul  may  be  transparent,  that  I  may  see  God  as  He  is!'" 


CHAPTER     XXXIII. 


WHITEFIELDS    DEATH. 

E  give  it  as  related  by  Mr.  Smith,  his  travel- 
ing companion,  who  saw  him  die.  On  Sat- 
urday, September  29,  1770,  Mr.  Whitefield 
rode  from  Portsmouth  to  Exeter  in  the 
morning,  and  preached  there  to  a  very  great 
multitude  in  the  fields.  "After  dinner  he 
and  Mr.  Parsons  rode  to  Newburyport.  I 
did  not  get  there  till  two  or  three  hours  after 
them.  I  found  them  at  supper.  I  asked  Whitefield  how  he 
felt  himself  after  his  journey.  He  said  'he  was  tired,  therefore 
he  supped  early,  and  would  go  to  bed.'  He  ate  a  very  light 
supper,  talked  but  little,  asked  Mr.  Parsons  to  discharge  the 
table,  perform  family  duty ;  and  then  retired  upstairs.  He 
said  that  he  would  sit  and  read  till  I  came  to  him,  which  I  did 
soon  as  possible  ;  and  found  him  reading  in  the  Bible,  with 
Watts'  Psalms  lying  open  before  him.  He  asked  me  for  some 
water  gruel,  and  took  about  half  his  usual  quantity;  and 
kneeling  down  by  the  bedside,  closed  the  evening  with  prayer. 
After  a  little  conversation,  he  went  to  rest,  and  slept  till  two  in 
the  morning,  when  he  awoke  me  and  asked  for  a  little  cider,  of 
which  he  drank  about  half  of  a  wineglassful.  I  asked  him 
how  he  felt,  for  he  seemed  to  pant  for  breath.  He  told  me 
'  his  asthma  was  coming  on  him  again  ;  he  must  have  two  or 
three  days'  rest.  Two  or  three  days'  riding  without  preaching 
would  set  him  up  again.'     Soon  afterwards  he  asked  me  to  put 

(334) 


WHITEFIELDS    DEATH.  335 

the  window  up  a  little  higher  (though  it  was  half  up  all  night), 
*  for,'  said  he,  '  I  cannot  breathe  ;  but  I  hope  I  shall  be  better 
by  and  by;  a  good  pulpit  sweat  to-day  may  give  me  relief:  1 
I  shall  be  better  after  preaching.'  I  said  to  him,  I  wished  he 
would  not  preach  so  often.  He  replied,  '  I  had  rather  7Vi'arout 
than  rust  out.'  I  then  told  him  I  was  afraid  he  took  cold  in 
preaching  yesterday.  He  said  '  he  believed  he  had  :'  and  then 
sat  up  in  the  bed,  and  prayed  that  God  would  be  pleased  to 
bless  his  preaching  where  he  had  been,  and  also  bless  his 
preaching  that  day,  that  more  souls  might  be  brought  to 
Christ ;  and  prayed  for  direction,  whether  he  should  winter  at 
Boston,  or  hasten  to  the  southward — prayed  for  a  blessing  on 
his  Bethesda  college,  and  his  dear  family  there ;  for  the  Taber- 
nacle and  chapel  congregations,  and  all  the  connections  on  the 
other  side  of  the  water ;  and  then  laid  himself  down  to  sleep 
again.  This  was  nigh  three  o'clock.  After  a  quarter  past 
four  he  waked,  and  said,  *  My  asthma,  my  asthma  is  coming 
on;  I  wish  I  had  not  given  out  word  to  preach  at  Haverhill  on 
Monday ;  I  don't  think  I  shall  be  able ;  but  I  shall  see  what 
to-day  will  bring  forth.  If  I  am  no  better  to-ni.orrow,  I  will 
take  two  or  three  days'  ride.'  He  then  desired  me  to  warm 
him  a  little  gruel ;  and,  in  breaking  the  firewood,  I  waked  Mr. 
Parsons,  who,  thinking  I  knocked  for  him,  rose  and  came  in. 
He  went  to  Whitefield's  bedside,  and  asked  him  how  he  felt 
himself  He  answered, 'I  am  almost  suffocated.  I  can  scarce 
breathe,  my  asthma  quite  chokes  me.'  I  was  then  not  a  little 
surprised  to  hear  how  quick,  and  with  what  difficulty  he  drew 
his  breath.  He  got  out  of  bed,  and  went  to  the  open  window 
for  air.  This  was  exactly  at  five  o'clock.  I  went  to  him,  and 
for  about  the  space  of  five  minutes  saw  no  danger,  only  that  he 
had  a  great  difficulty  in  breathing,  as  I  had  often  seen  before. 
Soon  after  he  turned  himself  to  me,  and  said,  '/  am  dying!     I 


J* 


336  LIFE   OF   WHITFFIELD. 

said,  '  I  hope  not,  sir.'  lie  ran  to  the  other  window,  panting 
for  breath,  but  could  get  no  rehef.  It  was  agreed  that  I  should 
go  for  Dr.  Sawyer ;  and  on  my  coming  back,  I  saw  death  on 
his  face ;  and  he  again  said,  '  /  am  dying!  His  eyes  were 
fixed,  his  under  lip  drawing  inward  every  time  he  drew  breath ; 
he  went  towards  the  window,  and  wc  offered  him  some  warm 
wine  with  lavender  drops,  which  he  refused.  I  persuaded  him 
to  sit  down  in  the  chair,  and  have  his  cloak  on ;  he  consented 
by  a  sign,  but  could  not  speak.  I  then  offered  him  the  glass 
of  warm  wine  ;  he  took  half  of  it,  but  it  seemed  as  if  it  would 
have  stopped  his  breath  entirely.  In  a  little  time  he  brought 
up  a  considerable  quantity  of  phlegm  and  wind.  I  then  began 
to  have  some  small  hopes.  Mr.  Parsons  said  he  thought 
Whitefield  ^breathed  more  freely  than  he  did,  and  would  re- 
cover. I  said,  '  No,  sir,  he  is  certainly  dying.'  I  was  continu- 
ally employed  in  taking  the  phlegm  out  of  his  mouth  with  a 
handkerchief,  and  bathing  his  temples  with  drops,  rubbing  his 
wrists,  etc.,  to  give  him  relief  if  possible,  but  all  in  vain ;  his 
hands  and  feet  were  as  cold  as  clay.  When  the  doctor  came 
in  and  saw  him  in  the  chair  leaning  upon  my  breast,  he  felt  his 
pulse,  and  said,  '  He  is  a  dead  man!  Mr.  Parsons  said,  'I 
don't  believe  it;  you  must  do  something,  doctor!'  He  said,  'I 
cannot ;  he  is  now  near  his  last  breath.'  And  indeed,  so  it 
was ;  for  he  fetched  but  one  gasp,  and  stretched  out  his  feet, 
and  breathed  no  more.  This  was  exactly  at  six  o'clock.  We 
continued  rubbing  his  legs,  hands  and  feet  with  warm  cloths, 
and  bathed  him  with  spirits  for  some  time,  but  all  in  vain.  I 
then  put  him  into  a  warm  bed,  the  doctor  standing  by,  and 
often  raised  him  upright,  continued  rubbing  him  and  putting 
.spirits  to  his  nose  for  an  hour,  till  all  hopes  were  gone.  The 
people  came  in  crowds  to  see  him ;  but  I  begged  the  doctor  to 
shut  the  door." 


WHITEFIELDS    DEATH.  337 

Thus  died  the  immortal  Whitefield.  While  he  lived  we  let 
him  speak  for  himself,  now  he  is  dead  we  wish  to  say  a  few 
things  about  him.  Touching  his  death,  we  observe  that  he 
had  long  prayed  for  it.  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly," 
was  his  oft-repeated  prayer.  Ready  to  die,  he  was  waiting  to 
depart.  Blest  with  full  assurance,  death  to  him  had  no  sting, 
and  the  grave  no  terrors.  Like  Paul,  he  could  say,  ^'to  die  is 
gain,  to  depart  is  far  better."  Having  done,  suffered,  and  en- 
joyed so  much  for  Christ  on  earth,  he  longed  to  go,  see,  and 
enjoy  Him  more  in  heaven. 

His  death  was  sudden  and  unexpected.  Yet  he  died  at  his 
post,  "in  the  midst  of  the  battle,"  "fighting  the  good  fight  of 
faith."  He  preached  one  day  and  died  the  next.  Though  very 
unwell,  he  had  been  preaching  daily  for  near  two  months. 
Suddenly  seized  with  a  fit  of  asthma,  after  a  few  hours'  suffering, 
he  .said,  "/  am  dying!'  They  sent  for  the  doctor.  He  came, 
but  it  was  too  late.  Death  had  seized  him,  and,  after  grappling 
a  little  with  the  last  enemy,  he  again  said,  "/  am  dyingT  These 
were  his  last  words.  After  a  few  more  struggles  "the  wheel 
at  the  cistern  stood  still,"  and  "the  seraphic  man"  passed  away. 
He  died  in  the  56th  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  34th  year  of 
his  ministry.  How  sudden  the  change!  It  was  "but  a  step'' 
from  his  "  pulpit  throne  "  on  earth  to  the  throne  of  God  in 
heaven.  "It  is  done."  "The  battle's  fought,  the  victory  won." 
"How  are  the  mighty  fallen."  "A  great  light  is  gone  out." 
The  church  has  lost  her  greatest  preacher,  and  the  world  its 
greatest  orator  and  intercessor  at  a  throne  of  grace.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Romaine  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what  has  the  church  suffered  in 
the  setting  of  that  bright  star  which  has  shone  so  gloriously  in 
our  hemisphere!" 

Shocked  by  his  death,  the  word  spread  like  fire.  Six  hours 
after  he  expired,  a  man  was  seen  riding  through  the  streets  of 


338  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Portsmouth,  crying  out,  "  White  field  is  dead !  Whitefield  is 
dead!  He  died  at  Newburyport  this  morning  at  six  o'clock." 
Wrung  with  grief,  the  people  met  in  great  crowds  to  mingle 
their  sorrows,  and  to  do  honor  to  the  mighty  dead.  His  life 
was  a  grand  success,  his  death  a  glorious  victory.  Dying  "on 
the  field  of  battle,"  he  died  in  the  zenith  of  his  glory.  As  he 
drew  nearer  the  eternal  world,  he  seemed  to  draw  nearer  to 
God,  and  to  preach  with  greater  power.  His  pulpit  power 
never  waned.  He  had  often  prayed  "  that  his  zeal  might  not 
flag  at  the  latter  end  of  the  road."  Neither  did  it.  Instead  of 
flagging  it  rather  increased.  His  soul  seemed  to  expand  to  the 
last,  and  his  last  labors  everywhere  seemed  to  have  been  at- 
tended with  greater  power  than  ever.  His  receptions  now  were 
"heartier,"  and  his  farewells  more  solemn  and  touching. 
Crowned  with  unprecedented  success  during  his  last  labors  in 
the  South,  and  still  greater  in  the  North,  he  fell  at  his  post, 
covered  with  glory  and  honor.  Soon  after  he  expired  a  large 
crowd  of  ministers  and  others  gathered  around  his  remains, 
and,  says  Mr.  Smith,  "they  all  said  his  last  visit  was  attended 
with  more  power  than  any  other ;  and  that  all  opposition  fell 
before  him." 

Again,  Whitefield  died  "silent."  No  vivid  thoughts,  stirring 
appeals,  nor  shouts  of  glory  marked  his  death,  that  character- 
ized his  life.  Having  borne  such  ample  testimony  for  God 
during  his  life,  nothing  more  was  needed  at  his  death.  He 
had  said  and  done  enough.  God  required  no  more.  Wesley 
said  when  dying,  "  The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us."  Top- 
lady  said,  "I  enjoy  a  heaven  already  in  my  soul."  But  White- 
field,  with  his  towering  faith,  holy  life  and  heroic  zeal,  simply 
said,  "/  am  dying,"  and  God  took  him  home  to  "an  eternal 
weight  of  glory."  In  1764,  when  Rev.  Dr.  Finley,  President 
of  New  Jersey  College,  said  to   Mr.  Whitefield,  "  I   should  be 


i  WHITEFIELDS   DEATH.  339 

glad  to  hear  the  noble  testimony  you  will  bear  for  God"  at 
death.  Whitefield  replied,  "  You  will  be  disappointed,  Doctor, 
I  shall  die  silent.  It  hath  pleased  God  to  enable  me  to  bear 
so  many  testimonies  for  Him  during  my  life,  that  He  will  re- 
quire none  when  I  die.  No,  no,  it  is  your  dumb  Christians, 
that  have  walked  in  fear  and  darkness,  and  thereby  been  un- 
able to  bear  a  testimony  for  God  during  their  lives,  that  He 
compels  to  speak  out  for  Him  on  their  death-beds."     (Gillies.) 

And  here  let  us  inquire  what  was  the  secret  of  his  triumph- 
ant death.  It  was  his  strong  faith,  and  laborious  and  self-sac- 
rificing life.  Though  "all  of  grace,"  he  died  triumphantly, 
because  he  lived  earnestly.  He  enjoyed  much  because  he 
wrought  much.  Crucified  to  the  world,  he  lived  for  Christ, 
and  Christ  gave  him  victory.  Conscious  of  the  inseparable 
connection  between  doing  duty  and  enjoying  God,  he  strove 
with  all  his  might  to  be  faithful.  He  made  life  second  to  duty. 
He  hcis  a  great  reward,  because  he  made  a  great  sacrifice.  He 
sits  high  with  Jesus  in  heaven,  because  he  worked  hard  and 
walked  close  with  Him  on  earth. 

"Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh."  Simply  hearing  the  an- 
nouncement of  his  death  led  to  one  man's  conversion.  Ben- 
jamin Randall,  a  young  sail-maker,  was  deeply  impressed 
under  Whitefield's  last  sermons  in  Portsmouth.  As  he  was 
going  to  church  he  heard  a  man  cry  out,  "  Whitefield  is  dead  T 
The  announcement  startled  him,  and  went  like  an  arrow  to  his 
heart.  He  says,  "  It  was  September  30,  that  memorable  day  ! 
that  blessed  day  to  Whitefield  !  that  blessed  day  to  me  !  a 
voice  sounded  through  my  soul  more  loud  and  start- 
ling than  ever  thunder  pealed  upon  my  ears,  '  Whitefield  is 
dead!'  Whitefield  is  now  in  heaven,  but  I  am  on  the 
road  to  hell.     He  was  a  man  of  God,  and  yet  I   reviled  him 


340  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

and  spoke  reproachfully  of  him.  He  taught  me  the  way  to 
heaven,  but  I  rejected  it."  This  led  to  Randall's  conversion. 
He  became  a  Baptist  minister,  and  the  founder  of  the  Free-will 
Bnjitist  denomination,  now  numbering  over  60,000  members 
anu  1000  ministers. 


CHAPTER     XXXIV 


WHITEFIELD  S    FUNERAL. 

I  TUNG  with  grief  at  his  death,  thousands  upon 
thousands  assembled  to  mingle  their  tears  of  sor- 
row at  his  funeral.  Endeared  to  the  people  while 
living,  they  delighted  to  honor  him  when  dead. 
Says  Mr.  Smith,  "  Many  ministers  of  all  persua- 
sions came  to  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons, 
where  several  of  them  gave  a  very  particular  ac- 
count of  their  first  awakenings  under  his  ministry, 
several  years  ago,  and  also  of  many  in  their  congregations, 
that  to  their  knowledge,  under  God,  owed  their  conversion  to 
his  coming  among  them,  often  referring  to  the  blessed  seasons 
they  had  enjoyed  under  his  preaching ;  and  all  said,  that  his 
last  visit  was  attended  with  more  power  than  any  other,  and 
that  all  opposition  fell  before  him.  Then  one  and  another  of 
them  would  pity  and  pray  for  his  dear  Tabernacle  and  Chapel 
congregations,  and  it  was  truly  affecting  to  hear  them  bemoan 
America's  and  England's  loss.  Thus  they  continued  for  two 
hours  conversing  about  his  great  usefulness,  and  praying  that 
God  would  scatter  his  gifts  and  drop  his  mantle  among  them." 
"  Early  the  next  morning  after  his  death,"  says  Dr.  Gillies, 
"  Mr.  Sherburn,  of  Portsmouth,  sent  Mr.  Clarkson  and  Dr. 
Haven  with  a  message  to  Mr.  Parsons,  desiring  that  Mr. 
Whitefield's  remains  might  be  buried  in  his  own  new  tomb,  at 
his  own  expense;    and  in  the  evening  several  gentlemen  from 

(340 


342  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

Boston  came  to  Mr.  Parsons,  desiring  the  body  might  be  car- 
ried there.  But  as  Mr.  Whitefield  had  repeatedly  desired  to 
be  buried  before  Mr.  Parson's  pulpit,  if  he  died  at  Newbury- 
port,  Mr.  Parsons  thought  himself  obliged  to  deny  both  of 
these  requests." 

Enshrouded  in  his  gown,  cassock  and  wig,  Whitefield  was 
buried  October  2,  1770,  from  the  house  of  Mr,  Parsons.  "At 
one  o'clock  all  the  bells  in  the  town  were  tolled  for  an  hour, 
and  all  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  gave  their  proper  signals  of 
mourning.  At  two  o'clock  the  bells  tolled  again.  At  three, 
the  bells  called  to  attend  the  funeral.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Haven, 
of  Portsmouth,  the  Rev.  Messrs,  Daniel  Rogers,  of  Exeter, 
Jedediah  Jewet,  and  James  Chandler,  of  Rowley,  Moses  Par- 
sons, of  Newburyport,  and  Edward  Bass,  of  Newburyport,  were 
pall-bearers.  Mr.  Parsons  and  his  family,  with  many  other 
respectable  persons,  followed  the  corpse  in  mourning.  The 
procession  was  one  mile.  When  the  corpse  was  carried 
into  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  placed  at  the  foot  of  the 
pulpit,  close  to  the  vault,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Rodgers  made  a 
very  affecting  prayer,  and  openly  declared,  in  the  presence  of 
about  six  thousand  persons,  within  the  walls  of  the  church, 
while  many  thousands  were  on  the  outside  unable  to  get  in, 
that,  under  God,  he  owed  his  conversion  to  the  labors  of  that 
dear  man  of  God,  whose  precious  remains  now  lay  before 
them.  Then  he  cried  out,  '  0  mjy  fai/iey,  my  father!'  then 
stopped  and  wept  as  though  his  heart  would  break:  the  peo- 
ple weeping  all  through  the  pkice.  Then  he  recovered,  and 
finished  his  prayer,  and  sat  down  and  wept.  Then  one  of  the 
deacons  gave  out  that  hymn — 

"  Why  do  we  mourn  departing  friends?"  etc., 

some  of  the  people  weeping,  some  singing,  and  so  on  alternately. 


WHITEFIELDS    FUNEKAL.  343 

The  Rev.  Ml".  Jewet  preached  a  funeral  discourse,  and  made  an 
affectionate  address  to  his  brethren,  to  lay  to  heart  the  death 
of  that  useful  man  of  God  ;  begging  that  he  and  they  might  be 
upon  their  watch-tower,  and  endeavor  to  follow  his  blessed 
example.  He  said,  '  We  are  met  here,  a  large  assembly  of 
mourners  to  condole  the  loss,  the  almost  irreparable  loss,  which 
tve,  our  Christian  friends,  and  the  Chiircli  of  God,  have  sustained, 
in  the  sudden  death  of  our  most  amiable  and  useful  friend  and 
dear  father,  the  Rev.  Mr.  George  Whitefi eld  ;  and  to  pay  our 
last  office  of  respect  unto  his  earthly  remains.  We  may  recol- 
lect that  Jesus  Christ,  while  He  tabernacled  in  the  flesh,  and 
when  He  was  going  to  the  grave  of  His  dear  friend  Lazarus 
with  his  sisters,  and  a  train  of  other  mourners,  expressed  the 
tender  sentiments  of  His  heart  by  His  groans  and  tears.  The 
evangelist  informs  us  that  He  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  was 
troubled;  or,  according  to  the  original.  He  troubled,  or  afflicted 
Himself,  i.  e.,  He  gave  the  reins  in  some  measure  to  His  grief; 
"  Jesus  wept."  Well  then  may  we  tveep  and  afflict  ourselves, 
giving  scope  to  the  sorrowful  affections  of  our  hearts,  because 
our  friend,  and  the  friend  of  Christ,  sleepeth.  How  is  the 
mighty  fallen,  and  the  weapons  of  the  spiritual  warfare  per- 
ished. What  a  wide  breach  is  made  upon  us,  upon  New  Eng- 
land, and  upon  all  the  British  colonies  in  America.  How 
much  zeal  for  God,  and  gospel  doctrine,  compassion  for  perish- 
ing sinners,  and  true  holiness  is  taken  from  amongst  us  by  this 
stroke  of  God's  hand.  What  a  friend  he  has  been  to  us  and 
our  interests,  religious  and  civil,  to  New  England  and  all  the 
British  colonies.  How  generously  he  has  opened,  not  only  his 
mouth  for  us,  but  his  heart  also  to  us,  and  spent  himself  unto  wea- 
riness and  even  to  deatJi  amongst  us,  and  for  us ;  a  shower  of 
tears  poured  on  his  grave,  together  with  all  the  decent  funeral 
respect  we  can  pay  his  clayey  tabernacle,  is  but  an  equitable, 


344  LIFE   OF   WIllTEFIELD. 

yea,  but  a  small,  inconsiderable  tribute.'  The  corpse  was  then 
put  into  the  vault,  and  all  concluded  with  a  short  prayer  and 
dismission  of  the  people,  who  went  weeping  through  the 
streets  to  their  respective  homes."     (Gillies.) 

But  it  was  not  only  in  Newburyport  "that  great  lamentation 
was  made  over  him" — all  New  England  lamented  him.  Two 
continents- mourned  his  loss.  His  death  cast  a  solemn  gloom 
over  the  entire  Christian  world.  Rev.  C.  Winter  said  to  Rev. 
Wm.  Jay,  "  You  have  no  conception  of  the  effect  of  Mr.  White- 
field's  death  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Georgia.  All  the  black 
cloth  in  the  stores  was  bought  up;  the  pulpit  and  desk  of  the 
church,  the  branches,  the  organ  loft,  the  pews  of  the  governor 
and  council,  were  covered  with  black.  The  governor  and 
council,  in  deep  mourning,  convened  at  the  state  house,  and 
went  in  procession  to  church,  and  were  received  by  the  organ 
playing  a  funeral  dirge.  Two  funeral  sermons  were  preached, 
one  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellington,  the  other  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Zubly."  Similar  marks  of  respect  were  shown  by  some  of  the 
churches  in  Philadelphia,  and  many  other  places.  The  mourn- 
ful news  of  his  death  reached  London  November  5.  Rev.  Mr. 
Keen  at  once  communicated  it  to  the  Tabernacle  and  Totten- 
ham Court  Chapel ;  and  who  could  describe  the  anguished 
hearts  of  the  bereaved,  weeping  congregations !  All  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears  over  the  great  loss  of  their  dearly  beloved 
pastor.  According  to  Whitefield's  previous  arrangement,  the 
Rev.  John  Wesley,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Keen,  preached  his 
funeral  sermon  on  Sabbath,  the  i8th  of  November,  from  Num- 
bers xxiii.  10,  at  the  Chapel  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon 
at  the  Tabernacle.  The  London  Chronicle  of  Nov.  19,  I77*^> 
says:  "The  multitudes 'that  went  to  hear  it  exceeded  all  belief. 
The  Chapel  and  Tabernacle  were  filled  as  soon  as  they  were 
opened."      The  pulpits  in  both  places  were  hung  with    black 


WHITEFIELDS    FUNERAL,  345 

cloth,  and  the  galleries  with  fine  black  baize.  Hatchments  were 
put  up  with  the  motto,  ''  Meta  vita,  solus  ct  gloria  Christus." 
The  mournings  and  the  escutcheons  in  the  vestries  in  each 
place  were  kept  up  six  months,  and  the  hatchments  twelve. 

WHITEFIELD's    will EXTRACT. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  three 
persons  but  one  God,  I,  George  Whitefield,  clerk,  at  present 
residing  at  the  Orphan  House  Academy,  in  the  province  of 
Georgia,  in  North  America,  being,  through  infinite  mercy,  in 
more  than  ordinary  bodily  health,  and  of  a  perfect,  sound,  and 
composed  mind,  knowing  the  certainty  of  death,  and  yet  the 
uncertainty  of  the  time  I  shall  be  called  by  it  to  my  long- 
wished-for  home,  do  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament : 

'^Imprimis.  In  sure  and  certain  hope  of  a  resurrection  to 
eternal  life,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  commit  my  body 
to  the  dust,  to  be  buried  in  the  most  plain  and  decent  manner; 
and  knowing  in  whom  I  have  believed,  and  being  persuaded 
that  He  will  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  Him,  in  the 
fullest  assurance  of  faith,  I  commend  my  soul  into  the  hands  of 
the  ever-loving,  altogether  lovely,  never-failing  Jesus,  in  who*se 
complete  and  everlasting  righteousness  I  entirely  depend  for 
the  justification  of  my  person,  and  acceptance  of  my  poor, 
worthless,  though  I  trust  sincere,  performances,  at  that  day 
when  He  shall  come  to  judge  both  the  quick  and  dead."  His 
Orphan  House  at  Bethesda,  and  all  the  buildings  and  all  the  ap- 
purtenances thereof,  "  I  leave  to  the  Right  Honorable  Lady 
Huntingdon;  desiring  that  as  soon  as  may  be  after  my  decease, 
the  plan  of  the  intended  Orphan  House  Bethesda  College  may 
be  prosecuted — if  not  practicable  or  eligible  to  pursue  the  pres- 
ent plan  of  the  Orphan  House  Academy — on  its  old  foundation 
and  usual  channel."    In  case  of  her  death  before  his,  he  willed  all 


346  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

the  above  to  his  dear  friend,  the  Hon.  James  Habersham.  With 
regard  to  his  outward  affairs  in  England,  he  willed  the  Taber- 
nacle and  Tottenham  Court  Chapel,  all  the  buildings  connected 
therewith,  and  all  the  appurtenances  thereof,  to  his  "two  worthy, 
trusty  friends,  Daniel  West,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Robert  Keen,  or  the 
longer  survivor  of  the  two." 

"  As  to  the  moneys  which  a  kind  providence,  especially  of 
late,  in  a  most  unexpected  way,  and  unthought-of  means,  has 
vouchsafed  to  entrust  me  with,"  he  says,  "  I  give  and  bequeath 
the  sum  of  ^100  sterling  to  Lady  Huntingdon  aforesaid,  hum- 
bly beseeching  her  ladyship's  acceptance  of  so  small  a  mite,  as 
a  pepper-corn  acknowledgment,  for  the  undeserved,  unsought- 
for  honor  her  ladyship  conferred  upon  me,  in  appointing  me  one 
of  her  domestic  chaplains." 

To  Mr.  James  Habersham  he  gave  his  late  wife's  gold  watch, 
and  ;^io  for  mourning;  "to  my  dear  old  friend,  Gabriel  Harris, 
Esq.,  of  Gloucester,  who  received  and  boarded  me  in  his  house 
when  I  was  helpless  and  destitute,  above  thirty  years  ago,  I 
give  the  sum  of  £^o\  to  my  humble,  faithful  servant  and  friend, 
Mr,  Ambrose  Wright,  I  give  ;^500."  To  his  brother,  Thomas 
Whitefield,  he  gave  ;^50 ;  to  Mr.  James  Smith,  of  Bristol,  he 
gave  ^50,  and  ^30  for  family  mourning ;  to  his  niece,  Mrs. 
Frances  Hartford,  of  Bath,  he  gave  ^50,  and  ^^30  for  family 
mourning,  etc.,  etc. 

"To  Mr.  Cornelius  Winter,  and  all  my  other  assistant 
preachers  at  the  Tabernacle  and  Tottenham  Court  Chapel,  I 
give  £\0  each  for  mourning.  Finally,  I  give  ;^iOO  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  my  old  London  servants,  the  poor  widows  at 
Tottenham  Court  Chapel,  and  the  Tabernacle  poor ;  especially 
my  old  trusty  friend  and  servant,  Mrs  Elizabeth  Wood."  He 
made  a  conditional  provision  to  give  annual  prizes  for  the  three 
best  orations  in  the  Orphan  House  Academy.     He  appointed 


WHITEFIELD  S    FUNERAL,  347 

Hon.  James  Habersham  his  executor  for  his  American,  and 
Charles  Hardy,  Esq.,  Daniel  West,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Robert  Keen, 
executors  for  his  affairs  in  England. 

"As  for  my  enemies  and  misjudging  friends,  I  most  freely 
and  heartily  forgive  them,  and  can  only  add  that  the  last  tre- 
mendous day  will  only  discover  what  I  have  been,  what  I  am, 
and  what  I  sJiall  be  when  time  itself  shall  be  no  more;  and 
therefore  from  my  inmost  soul  I  close  all  by  crying,  'Come 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly;  even  so.  Lord  Jesus.  Amen  and 
amen.'  George  Whitefield." 

This  wiil  was  written  by  Whitefield  himself,  signed,  sealed, 
and  delivered,  at  the  Orphan  House  Academy,  in  the  province 
of  Georgia,  before  us  witnesses,  March  22,  A.  D.  1770. 

Robert  Bolton. 

Thomas  Dixon. 

Cornelius  Winter. 

Whitefield  adds:  "N.  B. — I  also  leave  a  mourning  ring  to 
my  honored  and  dear  friends,  and  distinguished  fellow-laborers, 
the  Revs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  in  token  of  my  indissoluble 
union  with  them  in  heart  and  Christian  affection,  notwithstand- 
ing our  difference  in  judgment  about  some  particular  points  of 
doctrine.  Grace  be  with  all  them,  of  whatever  denomination, 
that  love  our  Lord  Jesus,  our  common  Lord,  in  sincerity." 

whitefield's  tomb. 

His  remains  lie  in  a  vault  under  the  pulpit  of  the  "  Old 
South  Presbyterian  Church,"  Newburyport,  Massachusetts. 
Lighting  his  lamp,  Mr.  Jaques  lifted  a  small  trap-door  behind 
the  pulpit,  and  took  us  down  to  the  place  where  sleep  in  death 
the  mortal  remains  of  the  immortal  man.  There  they  lie, 
encased  in  a  plain,  unvarnished  coffin,  lying  on  top  of  two 
other  coffins.     Though  shattered  by  the  mouldering  hand  of 


348  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

time,  the  skull  and  larger  bones  still  remain  entire.  The  bal- 
ance is  a  heap  of  dust.  The  frontal  bone  bears  the  mark  of  the 
fingers'  gentle  touch  of  the  many  thousands  who  have  visited 
this  sacred  shrine.  The  main  bone  of  the  right  arm  was  taken 
to  England  as  a  curiosity  several  years  ago,  and  brought  back 
and  replaced  in  1837,  with  great  interest  and  deep  solemnity. 
"A  procession  of  2000  people  followed  it  to  the  grave." — {N.  Y. 
Observer)  Calling  to  mind  the  glorious  career  of  the  living 
man  in  connection  with  the  sight  of  his  rusty  remains,  struck 
us  with  feelings  of  reverence  and  solemn  awe.  The  dust,  the 
bones,  and  the  well  varnished  skull,  though  a  very  dry  subject, 
to  us  were  a  very  interesting  sight.  To  gaze  upon  the  skull 
that  once  contained  the  brains,  and  the  frame  that  once  encased 
the  heart,  that  moved  the  masses,  stirred  the  souls,  and  revived 
the  churches  of  two  continents,  was  a  very  impressive  sight. 
When  we  remember  the  flame  of  fire  and  the  mighty  genius 
that  once  animated  these  dry  bones,  and  recall  the  bold,  fervid, 
eloquent  words  that  gushed  from  his  compassionate  heart,  and 
fell  from  his  tender  lips,  and  associate  them  with  the  grandeur 
and  glory  of  his  successful  life,  the  sight  becomes  still  more 
impressive.  And  when  we  remember  that  the  hour  is  coming 
when  these  dry  bones  will  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God, 
live,  and  come  forth  from  that  dingy  vault,  clothed  in  power, 
glory,  and  immortality;  when  Whitefield,  soul  and  body  re- 
united, will  be  caught  up  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  go  to 
dwell  forever  with  Him,  the  gloomy  sight  appears  far  more 
impressive  still. 

The  preciousness  of  Whitefield's  memory  is  seen  in  the 
numerous  visits  made  to  his  tomb.  We  give  one  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Cox,  of  London,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Hoby,  of  Birmingham.  They 
say,  "  Deep  expectant  emotions  thrilled  through  our  bosoms 
as  we  descended  into  the  awful  and  silent  sepulchre.     There 


WHITEFIELD  S    FUNERAL.  349 

were  three  coffins,  side  by  side ;  two  of  them  containing  the 
remains  of  Mr.  Parsons  and  Mr.  Prince,  pastors  of  the  church, 
with  Whitefield's  in  the  middle,  over  which  we  bent  in  solemn 
awe.  We  gazed  on  the  fragments,  contemplated  and  handled 
the  skull,  of  the  great  preacher.  We  thought  of  his  devoted 
life,  his  blessed  death,  and  high  and  happy  destiny."  Mr.  Wm. 
B.  Tappan  wrote,  on  visiting  it  in  1837  : 

"And  this  was  Whitefiekl ! — this,  the  dust  now  blending 
With  kindred  dust,  that  wrapt  his  soul  of  fire — 
Which,  from  the  mantle  freed,  is  still  ascending 
Through  regions  of  far  glory,  holier,  higher." 

whitefield's  monument. 

In  one  corner  of  the  church,  on  the  right  of  the  pulpit, 
stands  his  cenotaph  or  monument,  erected  through  the  lib- 
erality of  Mr.  Bartlett,  of  Ncwburyport.  It  serves  as  a  noble 
monument  for  him  as  well  as  for  Whitefield.  It  is  about  five 
feet  square,  and  ten  or  twelve  feet  high.  Made  of  finely  pol- 
ished Massachusetts  and  Italian  marble,  with  a  massive,  solid 
base,  adorned  with  a  heavy  cornice,  it  is  a  neat  structure. 
Surmounted  with  a  golden  flame,  ascending  from  an  open  urn, 
"  a  beautiful  symbol  of  immortality,"  it  is  very  appropriate  and 
significant.  A  flame  of  love  and  a  flame  of  fire  while  living, 
a  monumental  flame  well  becomes  him  now  he  is  dead.  Al- 
though Whitefield  richly  deserves  the  finest  monument,  yet 
like  his  Master,  he  needs  none.  The  revived  churches  and 
the  restored  Christianity  of  Europe  and  America  are  his  mon- 
ument, luishrined  in  the  hearts  and  embedded  in  the  affec- 
tions of  the  people,  his  life,  his  zvords,  his  deeds,  constitute  a 
monument  as  durable  as  the  everlasting  hills.  On  one  side 
of  it  is  engraved,  in  letters  of  gold,  an  appropriate  epitaph, 
briefly  sketching  his  life,  character,  success  and  death.     Read- 


350  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

ing  it  over  brought  his  life  and  death  so  vividly  before  out 
mind,  that  we  could  but  gaze  upon  it  with  deep  emotions  and 
tears.     It  bears  the  following  inscription : 

THIS  CENOTAPH 

Is  erected  with  affectionate  veneration, 

To  the  Memory  of 

THE  REV.   GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

Born  at  Gloucester,  England,  Dec.  i6,  17 14, 

Educated  at  Oxford  University;    ordained  1736. 

In  a  Ministry  of  Thirty-four  years,  he  crossed 

the  Atlantic  thirteen  times, 

And  preached  more  than  eighteen  thousand  sermons. 

AS   A  SOLDIER   OF  THE   CROSS, 

humble,  devoted,  ardent, 

He  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God  ; 

Preferring  the  honor  of  Christ  to  his  own  interest, 

Repose,  reputation  and   life. 

AS  A  CHRISTIAN  ORATOR, 

His  deep  piety,  disinterested  zeal  and  vivid  imagination, 
gave  unexampled  energy  to  his  look, 
utterance  and  action. 
Bold,  fervent,  pungent,  and  popular  in  his  eloquence,  no  other  unin- 
spired man  ever  preached  to  so  large  assemblies,  or  enforced 
the  simple  truths  of  the  Gospel  by  motives  so  persua- 
sive and  awful,  and  with  an  influence  so 
powerful  on  the  hearts  of  his  hearers. 
He  died  of  Asthma,  September  30,  1770, 
Suddenly  exchanging  his  life  of  unparalleled  labors  for  his 
Eternal  Rest. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS. 

,HERE  were  a  great  many  sermons  preached 
upon  the  occasion  of  Whitefield's  death.  We 
make  the  following  extracts.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Parsons  preached  his  first  funeral  sermon  in 
Newburyport  the  same  day  he  died,  from  Phil, 
i.  21.  He  said,  "In  Whitefield,  I  believe,  we 
have  the  whole  of  the  text  exemplified :  he 
could  say  with  our  apostle,  '  For  me  to  live  is 
Christ  and  to  die  is  gain.'  Christ  became  a  principle  of  spir- 
itual life  in  his  soul,  while  he  was  at  the  University  in  Oxford. 
When  he  heard  Christ  speak  to  him  in  the  gospel,  he  cried, 
'  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?'  From  that  time  he 
had  an  ardent  desire  to  furnish  himself  for  the  gospel  ministry. 
To  this  end  he  gave  himself  to  reading  the  holy  scriptures, 
and  particularly  he  read  Mr.  Henry's  Commentaries  on  the 
whole  Bible  upon  his  knees  before  God,  a  noble  example  for 
young  students  in  divinity.  Since  my  first  acquaintance  with 
him,  which  is  about  thirty  years  ago,  I  have  highly  esteemed 
him  as  an  excellent  Christian  and  an  eminent  minister  of  the 
gospel.  I  have  often  considered  him  as  'an  angel  flying 
through  the  midst  of  heaven,  with  the  everlasting  gospel,  to 
preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth.'  Wherever  he 
flew,  like  a  flame  of  fire,  his  ministry  gave  a  general  alarm  to 
all  sorts  of  people,  though  before  they  had,  for  a  long  time, 

(350 


352  LIFK    OF    \VHlTKFJEr.n. 

been  amazingly  sunk  down  into  dead  formality.  It  is  no 
wonder  that  this  man  of  God  should  meet  with  enemies,  and 
with  great  opposition  to  his  ministry;  for  hell  trembled  before 
him."  But  "he  is  gone  while  our  souls  were  flushed  with  ex- 
pectation !  Snatched  away  suddenly,  without  any  time  allowed 
us  to  wean  ourselves  from  him!  O,  severe,  affecting  stroke! 
But  what  is  it  to  me  and  my  children — what  is  it  to  this  vast 
assembly — when  compared  with  the  general  loss  to  the  church 
of  God  ?  Where  is  the  man  that  can  describe  divine  things 
with  such  a  heavenly  flame?  Who,  O,  who,  shall  rise  in 
England  and  America,  with  an  equal  genius,  and  the  like 
spirit,  to  encourage  religion  arid  to  stem  the  torrent  of  opposi- 
tion to  the  gospel?  With  God  is  the  residue  of  the  Spirit,  and 
He  can  qualify  and  send  down  young  Elkis,  now  Elijah  has 
dropped  his  mantle.  Arise,  O  God,  and  plead  Thine  own 
cause  !" 

The  Rcv.JoJui  Wesley,  said,  in  the  language  of  the  Boston 
Gazette,  "  In  his  public  labors,  Whitefield  has  for  many  years 
astonished  the  world  with  his  eloquence  and  devotion.  With 
what  divine  pathos  did  he  persuade  the  unpenitent  sinners  to 
embrace  the  practice  of  piety  and  virtue!  Filled  with  the 
spirit  of  grace,  he  spoke  from  the  heart,  and  with  a  fervency 
of  zeal,  perhaps  unequaled  since  the  days  of  the  apostles, 
adorned  the  truths  he  delivered  with  the  most  graceful  charms 
of  rhetoric  and  oratory.  From  the  pulpit  he  was  unrivaled 
in  the  command  of  an  over-crowded  auditory.  Nor  was  he 
less  agreeable  and  instructive  in  his  private  conversation. 
Happy  in  a  remarkable  ease  of  address,  willing  to  communi- 
cate, studious  to  edify."  Mr.  Wesley  further  said,  "Mention 
lias  already  been  made  of  his  unparalleled  zeal,  his  indefati- 
gable activity,  his  tender-heartedness  to  the  afflicted,  and  chari- 
tahleness  toward  the  poor.     But  should  we   not   likewise  men- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        353 

tion  his  deep  gratitude  to  all  whom  God  had  used  as  instru- 
ments of  good  to  him?  Should  we  not  mention  that  he  had 
an  heart  susceptible  of  the  most  generous  and  the  most  ten- 
der friendsldp?  I  have  frequently  thought,  that  this,  of  all 
others,  was  the  distinguishing  part  of  his  character.  How  few 
have  we  known  of  so  kind  a  temper,  of  such  large  and  flowing 
affections?  Was  it  not  principally  by  this  that  the  hearts  of 
others  were  so  strangely  drawn  and  knit  to  him  ?  Can  any- 
thing but  love  beget  love?  This  shone  in  his  very  counte- 
nance, and  continually  breathed  in  all  his  words,  whether  in 
public  or  private.  Was  it  not  this,  which,  quick  and  penetrat- 
ing as  lightning,  flew  from  heart  to  heart? — which  gave  that 
life  to  his  sermons,  his  conversation  and  letters?  Ye  are  wit- 
nesses." Entering  the  ministry  when  veiy  young,  "he  had 
not  time  to  make  a  very  considerable  progress  in  the  learned 
languages.  But  this  defect  was  amply  supplied  by  a  lively 
and  fertile  genius,  by  fervent  z.cal,  and  by  a  forcible  and  most 
persuasive  delivery.  Being  singularly  cheerful,  as  well  as 
charitable  and  tender-hearted,  he  was  as  ready  to  relieve  the 
bodily  as  the  .spiritual  necessities  of  those  that  applied  to 
him."  Touching  his  success,  Wesley  says,  "  Have  we  read  or 
heard  of  any  person,  who  called  so  many  thousands,  so  many 
myriads  of  sinners,  to  repentance?  Above  all,  have  we  read 
or  heard  of  any  who  has  been  a  blessed  instrument  in  His 
hand  of  bringing  so  many  sinners  from  darkness  to  light,  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God."  And  in  his  journal  he 
says,  "  In  every  place  I  wish  to  show  all  possible  respect  to 
the  memory  of  that  great  and  good  man." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  E.  Peudn^rtou,   of   Boston,   said,   "  Posterity"^ - 
will  view  Mr.  Whitefield,  in  many  respects,  as  one  of  the  most 
extraordinary  characters    of   the    present  age.     His    zealous, 
incessant  and  successful  labors   in   Europe  and  America    are 
23 


354  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

without  a  parallel.  His  first  appearance  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  was  attended  with  surprising  success.  The  largest 
churches  in  London  would  not  contain  the  numbers  that  per- 
petually flocked  to  hear  his  awakening  discourses.  He  was 
soon  forced  into  the  fields,  followed  by  multitudes,  who  hung 
with  silent  attention  upon  his  lips,  and  with  avidity  received 
the  Word  of  Life.  He  preached  from  day  to  day  in  thronged 
assemblies;  yet  his  hearers  never  discovered  the  least  weari- 
ness, but  always  followed  him  with  increasing  ardor.  When 
in  the  pulpit,  eveiy  eye  was  fixed  on  his  expressive  counte- 
nance ;  every  ear  was  charmed  with  his  melodious  voice  ;  all 
sorts  of  persons  were  captivated  with  the  propriety  and  beauty 
of  his  address.  His  natural  abilities  were  vastly  above  the 
common  standard.  And  the  gifts  of  nature,  as  well  as  the 
acquisitions  of  art  which  adorned  his  character,  were  devoted 
to  the  honor  of  God  and  the  enlargement  of  his  kingdom." 
'\  The  Rev.  E.  Ellington,  V.  D.  M.,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  said : 
"  Mr.  Whitefield's  works  praise  him  loud  enough ;  I  am  not 
able  to  say  anything  that  can  add  greater  lustre  to  them. 
Ease  and  honor  were  continually  courting  his  acceptance;  but 
these  he  refused,  and  made  choice  of  defamation  and  reproach. 
Though  it  is  well  known  he  has  had  opportunity  long  since 
to  fill  the  Cathedral-chair,  and  enjoy  Episcopal  emolument, 
yet  in  his  opinion,  '  winning  souls  to  Christ'  was  a  greater 
honor  than  any  this  world  could  afford.  In  him  met  the 
finished  and  complete  gentleman,  and  the  real  and  true  Chris- 
tian. Why,  then,  did  he  take  pleasure  in  reproaches?  The 
reason  is  obvious — he  had  respect  to  the  recompense  of  the 
reward.  How  he  has  preached  with  showers  of  stones,  and 
many  other  instruments  of  malice  and  revenge  about  his  ears, 
many  of  his  surviving  friends  can  witness;  but  having  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners  at  heart,  he  spared  no  pains  and  refused  no 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        355 

labor,  so  that  he  might  administer  to  their  eternal  good.  But 
what  a  loss  has  our  world  sustained !  A  star  of  the  first  mag- 
nitude is  set,  a  great  man  is  fallen ;  /or  in  him  met  every  qual- 
ification that  constitutes  the  great  and  good."  His  text  was 
Heb.  xi.  26. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  D.  Edwards,  of  England,  said :  "  The  ardent  ^~" 
love  Whitefield  bore  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  remark- 
able. The  heart-felt  experience  of  this  divine  principle  con- 
strained him  to  an  unwearied  application  to  the  service  of  the 
gospel ;  and  transported  him,  at  times,  in  the  eyes  of  some, 
beyond  the  bounds  of  sober  reason.  He  was  content  to  be  a 
fool  for  His  sake ;  to  be  despised,  so  Christ  might  be  hon- 
ored ;  to  be  nothing,  that  Jesus  might  be  all  in  all.  He  had 
such  a  sense  of  the  incomparable  excellence  of  the  person  of 
Christ;  of  His  adorable  condescension  in  taking  our  nature 
upon  Him,  and  enduring  the  curse  of  the  law,  that  he  could 
never  say  enough  of  Him.  Inspired  by  this  principle,  noth- 
ing frightened  or  flattered  him  from  duty.  Full  of  generous 
philanthropy  and  benevolence,  his  Christian  zeal  was  like  the 
light  of  the  sun,  which  did  warm,  shine  and  cherish.  He 
wept  in  secret  for  the  pride,  Sabbath-breaking  and  abomina- 
tions that  were  found  in  England,  Scotland,  Wales,  Ireland 
and  America;  and  his  soul  was  often  humbled  in  fasting.  Mr. 
Whitefield  was  a  second  Luther;  but  he  is  called  home.  A 
greater  loss,  when  all  things  are  considered,  could  not  perhaps 
befall  the  church  of  God  in  the  death  of  a  single  person.  His 
life  shined  as  the  light.  His  searching  sermons  made  hypo- 
crites tremble,  and  his  instrumentality  made  the  kingdoms  of 
darkness  shake."  , 

Rev.  Henry  Venn,  of  England,  said':    "In  point  of  labor,     ^ 
this  extraordinary  servant  of  God  did  as  much  in  a  few  weeks,   J. 
as  most  of  those  who  exert  themselves  are  able  to  do  in  the 


356  LIFE    OF    WHFIEFIELD. 

space  of  a  year.  He  labored  not  by  fits  and  starts,  but  with 
constancy,  perseverance  and  unabated  ardor.  If  with  the 
length  and  frequency  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching,  wc  con- 
sid  r  the  intcnsouss  of  voice  and  spirit  with  which  he  spoke, 
t'lj  greatness  uf  his  labors  will  appear  perfectly  astonishing, 
lie  knew  not  how  to  speak  with  less  zeal.  His  usual  earnest- 
ness roused  the  most  stupid  and  lethargic.  Early  and  often 
his  body  sufftjrcd  from  this  very  violent  exertion  of  his 
strength.  Often  his  inside  has  bled  a  considerable  quantity, 
and  cried  out,  'Sparc  tliysclf!  But,  prodigal  of  life,  in  the  best 
of  causes,  he  would  give  himself  no  rest.  And  to  crown  all, 
he  was  abundantly  successful.  The  seals  to  his  ministry  I  am 
persuaded  are  more  than  would  be  credited,  could  the  number 
be  fixed.  His  amazing  popularity  was  only  from  his  useful- 
ness; for  he  no  sooner  opened  his  mouth  as  a  preacher,  than 
God  commanded  an  extraordinary  blessing  upon  his  word. 
Add  to  this,  the  letters  he  received  of  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment from  persons  of  all  ages  and  conditions  of  life,  for  the 
spiritual  blesssings  he  had  conveyed  to  them,  would  fill  whole 
volumes.  Yet  the  scourge  of  the  tongue  was  let  loose  upon 
him,  and  his  name  was  loaded  with  the  foulest  calumnies ;  he 
was  often  in  tumults,  and  more  than  once  in  danger  of  his 
life  by  the  rage  of  the  people;  he  wore  himself  away  in  the 
service  of  souls;  when  he  died,  he  died  quite  exhausted  by 
much  speaking;  but  in  his  death  he  received  an  immediate 
answer  to  his  own  prayer,  that  if  it  were  consistent  with  the 
divine  will,  he  might  finish  that  day  his  Master's  work." 

The  Rev.  John  Newton,  of  London,  in  preaching  White- 
field's  funeral  sermon' from  the  text,  "He  was  a  burning  and  a 
shining  light,"  said  :  "  I  am  not  backward  to  say,  that  I  have  not 
read  or  heard  of  any  person  since  the  apostles'  days,  of  whom 
it  may  be  more  emphatically  said,  he  was  a  burning  and  shining 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        357 

light,  than  the  late  Mr.  Whitcficld;  whether  we  consider  the 
warmth  of  his  zeal,  the  greatness  of  his  ministerial  talents,  or 
the  extensive  usefulness  with  which  the  Lord  honored  him. 
I  do  not  mean  to  praise  the  man,  but  the  Lord  who  furnished 
him,  and  made  him  what  he  was.  He  was  raised  up  to  shine 
in  a  dark  place.  The  state  of  religion,  when  he  first  appeared 
in  public,- was  very  low  in  our  established  Church.  I  speak 
the  truth,  though  to  some  it  may  be  an  offensive  truth.  What 
a  change  has  taken  place  throughout  the  land,  within  a  little 
more  than  thirty  years!  And  how  much  of  this  change  has 
been  owing  to  God's  blessing  on  Mr.  Whitefield's  labors,  is 
well  known  to  many  who  have  lived  through  this  period.  Me 
had  an  ardent  zeal  for  God,  an  inflamed  desire  for  the  salva- 
tion of  sinners ;  so  that  no  labors  could  weary  him,  no  diffi- 
culties or  opposition  discourage  him,  and  hardly  any  limits 
could  confine  him.  I  bless  God  that  I  lived  in  his  time: 
many  were  the  winter  mornings  I  arose  at  four  o'clock  to 
attend  his  Tabernacle  discourses  at  five ;  and  I  have  seen 
Moorfields  as  full  of  lanterns  at  these  times,  as  I  suppose  the 
Haymarket  is  full  of  flambeaux  on  an  opera  night.  His  zeal 
was  not  like  wild-fire,  but  directed  by  sound  principles  and  a 
sound  judgment.  His  steadiness  and  perseverance  in  the 
truth  was  the  more  remarkable,  considering  the  difficulties  and 
snares  he  was  sometimes  beset  with.  But  the  Lord  kept  him 
steady,  so  that  neither  the  example,  nor  friendship,  nor  impor- 
tunity of  those  he  dearly  beloved,  were  capable  of  moving 
him.  Wherever  he  came,  if  he  preeiched  but  a  single  dis- 
course, he  usually  brought  a  season  of  refreshing  and  revival 
with  him." 

The  Rev.  Augustus  M.  Toplady,  in  speaking  of  Whitefield, 
said:  "It  will  not  be  .saying  too  much,  if  I  term  him  the  Apostle 
of  the  British  Empire — in  point  of  zeal  for  God,  a  long  course 


358  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

of  indefatigable  and  incessant  labors,  unparalleled  disinterest- 
edness, and  astonishingly  extensive  usefulness.  If  the  abso- 
lute command  over  the  passions  of  immense  auditories  be  the 
mark  of  a  consummate  orator,  he  was  the  greatest  of  the  age. 
If  the  strongest  good  sense,  the  most  generous  expansions  of 
heart,  the  most  artless  but  captivating  affability,  the  most  lib- 
eral exemption  from  bigotry,  the  purest  and  most  transpicu- 
ous integrity,  the  brightest  cheerfulness,  and  the  promptest 
wit,  enter  into  the  composition  of  social  excellence,  he  was  one 
of  the  best  companions  in  the  world.  He  was  a  true  and  faith- 
ful son  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  invincibly  asserted 
her  doctrines  to  the  last ;  and  that,  not  in  a  merely  doctrinal 
way,  though  he  was  a  most  excellent  systematic  divine,  but 
with  an  unction  of  power  from  God  unequaled  in  the  present 
day.  If  to  be  steadfast,  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord ;  if  a  union  of  the  most  brilliant  with  the 
most  solid  ministerial  gifts,  ballasted  by  a  deep  and  humbling 
experience  of  grace,  and  crowned  with  the  most  extended 
success  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and  edification  of  saints, 
be  signatures  of  a  commission  from  heaven,  George  White- 
field  cannot  but  stand  highest  on  the  modern  list  of  Christian 
ministers.  It  appears  from  a  passage  in  one  of  Mr.  White- 
field's  own  letters,  published  since  his  decease,  that  he  was 
the  person  whom  the  gracious  spirit  and  providence  of  God 
raised  up  and  sent  forth  to  begin  that  great  work  of  spiritual 
revival  in  the  Church  of  England,  which  has  continued  ever 
since,  and  still  continues  with  increasing  spread,  to  replenish 
and  enrich  the  evangelical  vineyard  by  law  established.  To 
Rev.  John  Wesley,  Mr.  Whitefield  wrote:  'As  God  was 
pleased  to  send  me  out  first,  and  to  enlighten  me  first,  so  I 
think  He  still  continues  to  do  it ;  my  business  seems  to  be 
chiefly  in  planting.     If  God  sends  you  to  wateVy  I  bless  His 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        359 

name,'     On  the  whole,  he  was  the  least  imperfect  character  I 
ever   knew." 

These  spontaneous,  heart-gushing  expressions  of  respect 
and  grief  for  Whitefield,  and  these  strong  testimonies  of 
his  character,  zeal  and  success,  speak  volumes  for  the  man, 
and  for  the  grace  of  God  in  him. 
/  We  give  the  following  extracts  on  his  character  and  man- 
ner of  preaching,  from  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  yosiah 
Smith,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1740.  He  says  of  him:  "How 
rich  has  he  been  in  all  good  works !  What  an  eminent  pat- 
tern of  piety  towards  God!  How  holy  and  unblamable  in  all 
conversation  and  godliness  !  He  appears  to  me  a  man  full  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith.  He  lives  much  by  faith,  and 
above  the  world,  and  despises  preferments  and  riches.  His 
heart  seems  set  upon  doing  good.  He  is  proof  against  re- 
proach and  invective.  When  he  is  reviled,  he  revileth  not 
again,  but  prays  heartily  for  his  enemies.  He  profes.ses  him- 
self to  lay  down  his  life  for  Christ,  and  to  spend  and  be  spent 
in  the  service  of  souls.  Such  a  man  has  all  imaginable  claim 
to  our  highest  love  and  honor.  I  freely  own  he  has  taken  my 
heart,  and  I  feel  his  reproaches.  God  seems  to  be  with  him 
of  a  truth ;  his  rod  has  budded,  and  he  has  many  to  whom  he 
can  say,  Ye  are  my  epistle.  Wherever  he  has  preached,  he  has 
been  thronged,  and  many  have  come  to  him  pricked  in  their 
hearts,  saying,  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved?  He  has  put  a 
new  face  upon  religion,  and  put  a  damp  upon  polite  diversions, 
which  always  dwindle  as  Christianity  revives." 

Touching  his  manner,  Mr,  Smith  said,  "  He  was  certainly  a 
finished  preacher,  and  a  great  master  of  pulpit  oratory  and 
elocution,  while  a  noble  negligence  ran  through  his  style. 
Yet  his  discourses  were  very  extraordinary.  He  appeared  to 
me,  in  all   his   discourses,  very  deeply  affected   and  impressed 


360  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

in  his  own  heart.  How  did  that  burn  and  boil  within  him, 
when  he  spoke  of  the  things  he  had  made  concerning  the 
King?  How  was  his  tongue  Hke  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer, 
touched  as  with  a  coal  from  the  altar!  With  what  a  flow  of 
words,  what  a  ready  profusion  of  language,  did  he  speak  to  us 
upon  the  great  concerns  of  our  souls!  In  what  a  flaming 
light  did  he  set  our  eternity  before  us !  How  earnestly  did 
he  press  Christ  upon  us !  How  did  he  move  our  passions 
with  the  constraining  love  of  such  a  Redeemer !  The  awe, 
the  silence,  the  attention  which  sat  upon  the  face  of  so  great 
an  audience,  was  an  argument  how  he  could  reign  over  all 
their  powers.  Many  thought  he  spake  as  never  man  spake 
before  him.  So  charmed  were  the  people  with  his  manner  of 
address,  that  they  shut  their  shops,  forgot  their  secular  busi- 
ness, and  laid  aside  their  schemes  for  the  world;  and  the 
oftener  he  preached,  the  keener  edge  he  put  upon  their  desires 
of  hearing  him  again.  How  awfully,  with  what  thunder  and 
sound,  did  he  discharge  the  artillery  of  heaven  upon  us!  And 
yet,  how  could  he  soften  and  melt  even  a  soldier  of  Ulysses, 
with  the  love  and  mercy  of  God!  How  close,  strong  and 
pungent  were  his  applications  to  the  conscience ;  mingling 
light  and  heat,  pointing  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  at  the 
hearts  of  sinners,  while  he  poured  in  the  balm  upon  wounds 
of  the  contrite,  and  made  broken  bones  rejoice!  Eternal 
themes,  the  tremendous  solemnities  of  our  religion,  were  all 
alive  upon  his  tongue." 

The  distinguished  critic.  Sir  James  Stephen,  of  Cambridge 
University,  England,  says :  "  From  his  seventeenth  year  to  his 
dying  day,  Whitefield  lived  amongst  embittered  enemies  and 
jealous  friends,  without  a  stain  on  his  reputation.  His  whole 
life  may  be  said  to  have  been  consumed  in  the  delivery  of  one 
continuous,  or  scarcely  uninterrupted,  sermon.     Strange  as   is 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        361 

such  an  example  of  bodily  and  mental  energy,  still  stranger 
is  the  power  he  possessed  of  fascinating  the  attention  of  hear- 
ers of  every  rank  of  life  and  of  every  variety  of  understanding. 
Not  only  were  the  loom,  the  forge,  the  plow,  the  collieries 
and  the  workshops  deserted  at  his  approach,  but  the  spell  was 
acknowledged  by  Hume  and  Franklin — by  Pulteney,  Balling- 
broke  and  Chesterfield.  '  He  loved  the  world  that  hated  him.' 
He  had  no  preferences  but  in  favor  of  the  ignorant,  the  mis- 
erable and  the  poor.  In  their  cause  he  shrunk  from  no  pri- 
vation, and  declined  neither  insult  nor  hostility.  To  such 
wrongs  he  opposed  the  weapons  of  an  all-enduring  meekness, 
and  a  love  incapable  of  repulse.  The  springs  of  his  benevo- 
lence were  inexhaustible,  and  could  not  choose  but  flow. 
Never  was  mortal  man  gifted  with  such  an  incapacity  of  fa- 
tiguing or  of  being  fatigued.  A  large  proportion  of  the  Amer- 
ican and  English  churches  may  trace  back  their  spiritual  gen- 
ealogy by  regular  descent  from  him.  Estimated  by  those 
whose  religious  opinions  are  derived  from  him,  he  is  nothing 
less  than  an  apostle  inspired  in  the  latter  ages  of  the  Church, 
to  purify  her  faith  and  to  reform  her  morals.  Whitefield  wa? 
a  great  and  a  holy  man;  among  the  foremost  of  the  heroes 
of  philanthropy,  and  as  a  preacher  without  a  superior  or  a 
rival." 

Dr.  Franklin  said  to  a  gentleman  of  Georgia :  "  I  cannot 
forbear  expressing  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  see  an  account 
of  the  respect  paid  to  his  memory  by  your  Assembly.  I 
knew  him  intimately  upwards  of  thirty  years;  his  integrity, 
disinterestedness,  and  indefatigable  zeal  in  prosecuting  every 
good  work,  I  have  never  seen  equaled,  I  shall  never  .see  ex- 
celled." 

Years  ago  an  aged  citizen  of  Old  Ipswick,  Mass.,  who  had 
heard  Whitefield,  said  to  a  London  correspondent,  "  I  suppose, 


362  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD, 

sir,  you've  heard  of  Whitefield?"  "Of  Whitefield!  to  be 
sure  I  have."  "Well,  I've  seen  Whitefield.  George  White- 
field  stood  on  this  very  stone"  (dropping  his  stick  feebly  from 
his  hand),  "and  I  heard  him  preach  here."  "And  do  you  re- 
member anything  about  him?"  I  asked.  "Well,  I  guess  I 
do.  I  was  but  a  bit  of  a  boy  then ;  but  here  he  stood  on  this 
stone,  looking  like  a  flying  angel,  and  we  call  this  Whitefield's 
pulpit  to  this  day.  There  was  folks  here  from  all  parts  to 
hear  him;  so  he  was  obliged  to  preach  outside,  for  the  church 
wasn't  half  big  enough  for  'em,  and  no  two  ways  about  it. 
I've  heard  many  persons  since  that  time,  but  none  of  them 
could  come  nigh  him,  any  how  they  could  fix  it."  "Do  you 
remember  anything  of  his  sermon  ?"  "  Oh,  I  was  too  young 
to  notice  aught,  sir,  but  the  preacher  hisself  and  the  crowds 
of  people;  but  I  know  he  had  a  very  sweet  voice,  and  as  I 
said,  when  he  spread  his  arms  out,  with  a  little  Bible  in  his 
hand,  he  looked  like  a  flying  angel.  I  suppose,  sir,  you'll  be 
going  to  see  his  bones?  He  was  buried  in  Newburyport,  and 
you  can  see  'em  if  you  like." 

The  Rev.  jfames  Hervey  said  of  him  :  "  I  never  beheld  so 
fair  a  copy  of  our  Lord  ;  such  a  living  image  of  the  Saviour; 
such  exalted  delight  in  God;  such  unbounded  benevolence 
to  man;  such  steady  faith  in  the  divine  promises;  such  fer- 
vent zeal  for  the  divine  glory;  and  all  this  without  the  least 
moroseness  of  humor,  or  extravagance  of  behavior;  but 
sweetened  with  the  most  engaging  cheerfulness  of  temper,  and 
regulated  by  all  the  sobriety  of  reason  and  wisdom  of  scrip- 
ture: insomuch  that  I  cannot  forbear  applying  the  wise  man's 
encomium  on  an  illustrious  woman,  to  this  eminent  minister 
of  the  everlasting  gospel :  '  Many  sons  have  done  virtuously, 
but  thou  excellest  them  all.'"  And  says  Dr.  Gillies:  "That 
devout   and   affectionate   veneration,   which   would   have   led 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.        363 

throngs  to  bathe  Whitefielu's  feet  in  their  tears,  never  ex- 
isted for  any  merely  earthly  hero.  So  effectual  was  the  im- 
pression made  by  him  wherever  he  went,  that  formal  com- 
mendatory discourses  were  often  pronounced  upon  him,  in 
his  younger  days,  the  tone  of  which  precisely  accords  with 
ijJie  eulogies  after  his  death." 

Rev.  Dr.  jfanies  Hamilton,  of  London,  says:  "Whitefield 
was  the  prince  of  English  preachers.  Many  have  surpassed 
him  as  sermon  makers,  but  none  have  approached  him  as  a 
pulpit  orator.  Many  have  outshone  him  in  the  clearness  of 
their  logic,  the  grandeur  of  their  conceptions,  and  the  spark- 
ling beauty  of  single  sentences ;  but  in  the  power  of  darting 
the  gospel  direct  into  the  conscience,  he  eclipsed  them  all. 
With  a  full  and  beaming  countenance,  he  combined  a  voice  of 
rich  compass,  which  could  easily  thrill  over  Moorfields  in 
musical  thunder,  or  whisper  its  terrible  secret  in  every  private 
ear.  None  ever  used  so  boldly,  nor  with  more  success,  the 
highest  style  of  impersonation :  as  when  he  described  to  his 
sailor  auditors  a  storm  at  sea,  and  compelled  them  to  shout, 
'Take  to  the  long  boat,  sir!'  His  'hark,  hark!'  could  con- 
jure up  Gethsemane  with  its  faltering  moon,  and  awaken  the 
cry  of  horror-stricken  innocence.  His  thoughts  were  posses- 
sions ;  and  his  feelings  were  transformations ;  and  he  spoke 
because  he  felt,  his  hearers  understood  because  they  saw. 
They  were  not  only  enthusiastic  amateurs,  like  Garrick,  who 
ran  to  weep  and  tremble  at  his  bursts  of  passion,  but  even  the 
colder  critics  of  the  Walpole  school  were  surprised  into  mo- 
mentary sympathy  and  reluctant  wonder.  But  the  glory  of 
Whitefield's  preaching  was  his  heart-kindled  and  heart-melting 
gospel.  But  for  this,  all  his  bold  strokes  and  brilliant  sur- 
prises might  have  been  no  better  than  the  rhetorical  triumphs 
of  Kirwan  and  other  pulpit  dramatists.     He  was  an  orator, 


'M 


364  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD, 

but  only  sought  to  be  an  evangelist.  Indeed,  so  simple  was 
his  nature,  that  glory  to  God  and  good  will  to  man  had  filled 
it ;  there  was  room  for  little  more.  So  full  of  heaven  recon- 
ciled and  humanity  restored,  he  soon  himself  became  a  living 
gospel," 

HIS    INFLUENCE. 

In  summing  up  the  fruits  of  his  labors,  when  we  look  at 
his  grand,  successful  career,  the  mighty  hnpulse  he  gave  the 
religious  world,  and  the  great  revivals  he  brought  about,  his 
influence  is  incalculable.  Eternity  alone  will  reveal  it.  When 
we  count  up  his  18,000  sermons  in  thirty-four  years,  his  thir- 
teen voyages  across  the  ocean,  and  his  almost  superhuman 
labors ;  and  look  at  the  great  sacrifices  he  made,  and  the 
severe  persecutions  he  endured,  as  a  Christian  worker  and 
a  Christian  hero,  he  deservedly  stands  next  to  Paul.  He 
preached  the  gospel  to  more  people  than  any  other  man. 
And  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  says,  "he  preached  with  a  popularity 
•  and  success  which  have  never  been  equaled."  (Log  College, 
p.  II.)  And  in  the  day  of  final  retribution,  we  believe  he 
will  have  more  stars  in  his  crown  than  any  other  man  except 
Paul. 

Although  Wesley  is  the  founder  of  Methodism,  yet  in  its  . 
early  spread,  Whitefield  often  went  before,  and  Wesley  fol- 
lowed. Whitefield  planted — Wesley  watered.  Whitefield  often 
went  before  and  reaped  the  harvest — Wesley  followed,  gath- 
ered and  shocked  it.  Hence  Wesley  says,  "  I  must  go  round 
and  glean  after  Mr.  Whitefield."*  (Wesley's  Works,  V.  6,  p. 
655.) 

*  Whitefield  says  in  a  letter  to  John  Wesley,  Aug.  25,  1740,  "As  God  was 
pleased  to  send  me  out  first,  and  to  enlighten  me  first,  so  I  think  He  still  continues 
to  do  it.  My  business  seems  to  be  chiefly  in  planting ;  if  God  sends  you  to 
water,  I  praise  His  name.     I  wish  you  a  thousand- fold  increase." — Letter  214. 


EXTRACTS    I'KOM    HIS    FUNEI^L   SERMONS.  365 

A.  Stevens  says ;  "  Whitefield  led  the  Methodist  move- 
ment over  its  first  barriers,  and  sounded  the  trumpet  before 
its  march  in  both  hemispheres."*  In  the  introduction  of 
Field  Preaching,  upon  which  the  spread  of  Christianity  and 
the  success  of  Methodism  so  much  depended,  Whitefield  led 
and  Wesley  followed.  And  when  Whitefield  preached  his 
first  field  sermon,  he  kindled  such  a  fire  in  England  that  soon 
flashed  all  over  Great  Britain  and  America,  and  is  still  burning 
on.  It  will  never  go  out.  He  infused  such  life,  and  gave 
such  a  mighty  impulse  to  Christianity  in  England,  that  his 
influence  is  deeply  felt  to  this  day.  At  the  sound  of  his 
voice,  the  old  Established  Church  awoke  and  put  on  its 
strength.  Yet  his  influence,  no  doubt,  was  much  greater 
among  the  Nonconformity  churches.  They  owe  their  salva- 
tion very  much  to  him.  And  in  Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales, 
his  power  was  almost  as  great.  Some  of  his  grandest  vic- 
tories were  achieved  in  Scotland.  So  that  taking  it  altogether, 
his  influence  has  been  so  great,  he  has  been  called  "The 
Morning  Star  of  England's  Second  Reformation,"  and  by  Mr. 
Toplady,  "  The  Apostle  of  the  British  Empire." 

But  his  influence  was  greater,  no  doubt,  in  America  than 
in  Europe.  "The  Great  Awakening  of  1740,"  had  com- 
menced and  abated  before  Whitefield  came  to  America. 
Locally  it  had  been  very  powerful.  But  when  Whitefield 
came  and  preached,  it  soon  spread  all  over  the  country ;  it 
has  since  given  tone  and  character  to  the  Protestantism  of 
the  United  States,  And  Dr.  Abel  Stevens,  says,  "it  gave  rise 
to  Princeton  College  with  its  distinguished  Theological  Sem- 
inary," from  which  have  sprung  several  other  colleges  whose 
light  to-day  shines   around  the   world.      Under   Whitefield's 

*His  Methodism,  V.  i,  pp.  468,  475. 


366  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

labors  this  revival  spread  with  such  great  power,  it  has  been 
estimated  one-fortieth  of  the  Colonial  inhabitants  were  brought 
to  Christ  in  a  few  years.  Among  these  were  a  great  many- 
ministers.  In  1763,  forty  preachers  of  different  denomina- 
■  tions,  converted  in  this  revival,  met  to  congratulate  him  on 
his  arrival  at  Philadelphia.  At  another  time,  twenty  ministers 
in  and  about  Boston,  acknowledged  Whitefield  as  their  spir- 
itual father.  In  New  England,  in  less  than  twenty  years,  about 
one-hundred  and  fifty  Congregational  churches  were  organ- 
ized, with  over  50,000  members. 

Whitefield's  influence  was  scarcely  less  among  the  Pres- 
byterians. Before  this  revival,  says  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  "the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  was  in  a  most  deplorable 
state  of  deadness  and  formality."  But  when  Whitefield  came 
and  preached,  the  revival  spread  with  great  power,  and  soon 
became  general  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Even  the  read- 
ing of  a  few  of  his  sermons  in  Virginia,  resulted  in  establish- 
ing Presbyterianism  in  that  State.  So  that  the  Presbyterian 
strength  was  more  than  doubled  in  a  few  years.  His  influ- 
ence was  very  deeply  felt  in  all  denominations.  Randall,  one 
of  his  converts,  founded  the  Free-Will  Baptists,  now  75,000 
strong  in  this  country.  And  besides  his  great  work  among 
the  poor,  there  is  no  telling  what  influence  he  exerted  in 
bringing  about  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence. 
His  new  measures  in  the  Church  might  naturally  -lead  to  new 
measures  in  the  State.  So  that  when  he  came  to  lie  down  in 
death,  as  Rev.  Dr.  Warren,  of  Boston,  says,  "  he  was  uncon- 
sciously, but  in  reality,  the  spiritual  father  of  a  great  Chris- 
"^  tian  nation."  Review  his  life.  Look  up  his  vivid  thoughts, 
brilliant  words,  mighty  deeds  and  bloody  persecutions.  Look 
at  the  sermons  he  preached,  the  prayers  he  prayed,  and  the 
tears  he  shed.     O  what  zeal,  what  self-denial,  what  earnest- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  FUNERAL  SERMONS.         367 

ness,  what  holiness,  what  vehemence,  what  mighty  power  and 
success,  marked  his  hfe!  He  not  only  revived,  but  we  might 
almost  say,  saved  the  churches  of  two  continents.  Look  at 
the  countries  he  visited,  the  tours  he  made,  the  souls  he  won, 
the  victories  he  achieved,  and  his  whole  life  is  one  grand 
scene  of  success  and  victory  ! 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 


WIIITEFIELDS    SAYINGS. 

'HE  farther  we  go  in  the  spiritual  hfe,  the  more 
cool  and  rational  shall  we  be,  and  yet  more  truly 
zealous.    I  speak  this  by  experience." — 260,  V.  i. 

2.  "All  persons  are  alike  to  me." 

3.  "My  soul  is  kept  in  peace  and  sweetness." 

4.  "  I  pray  God  to  make  you  a  flaming  fire." 

5.  "Jesus  carries  me  in  His  arms,  He  fights 
all  my  battles." 

6.  "  I  am  a  poor  unworthy  wretch." 

7.  "  I  make  no  purse ;  what  I  have,  I  give  away," 

8.  "I  own  myself  to  be  but  a  novice." 

9.  "The  Christian  world  is  in  a  deep  sleep." 

10.  "I  long  to  be  dissolved,  to  be  with  Christ." 

11.  "All  the  devils  in  hell  shall   not  hurt  u.s,  till  we  have 
finished  our  testimony." 

12.  "My  heart  is  like  Ezekiel's  temple,  the  farther  I  search 
into  it  the  greater  abominations  I  discover." 

13.  "I  preach  the  truth,  and  then  leave  it  to  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  make  the  application."  ' 

14.  "O,  that  I  could  lie  down!  then  should  I  rise  higher!" 

15.  "My  heart  is  desperately  wicked." 

16.  "I  find  all  uneasiness  arises  from   having  a  will  of  my 
own ;  therefore  I  would  desire  to  will  only  what  God  wills." 

17.  "I  am  the  chief  of  sinners:  I  feel  myself  such." 

18.  "We  often  think  we  do  not  please  God,  because  we  do 

not  please  ourselves." 

(368) 


WHITEFl eld's    sayings.  369 

19.  "As  for  assurance,  I  cannot  but  think  all  who  are 
truly  converted  must  know  there  was  a  time  in  which  they 
closed  with  Christ." — V.  i,  p.  260. 

20.  "  Poor,  yet  making  many  rich,  shall  be  my  motto  still." 

21.  "O,  that  I  was  a  flaming  fire." 

22.  "What  sweet  company  is  Jesus  Christ?" 

23.  "The  love  of  Jesus  now  swallows  up  my  soul." 

24.  "I  sleep  and  eat  but  little,  and  am  constantly  employed 
from  morning  till  midnight." 

25.  "I  was  enabled  to  trample  death  under  my  feet;  and 
blessed  be  God,  through  rich  grace  I  can  do  that  daily." 

26.  "  I  am  exceedingly  strengthened,  and  cannot  now  do 
well  without  preaching  three  times  a  day." 

27.  ''Keep  close  to  yesusT 

28.  "I  laid  upon  my  face  this  day,  and  pleaded  with 
groans  unutterable  for  direction." 

29.  "O,  for  a  passive,  tender,  broken,  child-like  heart!" 

30.  "  O,  that  God  should  ever  dwell  with  such  an  ill  and 
hell-deserving  wretch  as  I  am!" 

31."  My  soul  glows  with  love  while  I  am  writing." 

32.  "God  is  on  my  sitle,  I  will  not  fear  what  men  nor 
devils  can  say  of,  or  do  unto  me." 

33.  "  I  care  not  if  tlw  name  of  George  Whitefield  be  ban- 
ished out  of  the  world,  so  that  Jksus  be  exalted  in  it." 

34.  "I  prefer  Christ's  re[)roach  to  all  the  treasures  in  the 
world." — V.  I,  p.  448. 

35.  "I  walk  in  light  and  liberty  continually.  Like  the 
ark,  I  am  surrounded  on  all  sides,  but  enabled  to  swmi  tri- 
umphantly over  all." 

36.  "My  soul  is  on  fire."^ 

37.  "  I  am  the  vilest  wretch  living." — 476. 

24 


370  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

38.  "In  every  trying  time,  we  shall  find  but  few,  very  few, 
true  followers  of  the  Lamb  of  God." 

39.  "  But  why  talk  of  wife  and  little  one  ?     Let  all  be  ab- 
sorbed in  the  thoughts  of  the  love  of  the  glorious  Emmanuel." 

40.  "Stolen  sweets  prepare  for  bitter  tears." 

41.  "  'Tis  hard  work  to  be  silent." 

42.  "  I  would  fain  die  blazing,  not  with  human  glory,  but 
the  love  of  Jesus." 

43.  "O,  for  assurance!      It  is  indeed  the  anchor  of  the 
soul." 

44.  "  I  fear  prosperity  more  than  affliction."  /• 

45.  "The  more  I  was  blackened,  the  more  the  Redeemer 
comforted  me."  > 

46.  "  Lady  Huntingdon  is  all  in  a  flame  for  Jesus." — V.  2, 
216. 

47.  "A  necessity  is  laid  upon  me,  and  woe  is  me  if  I  do 
not  preach  the  gospel." 

48.  "  What  is,  is  best.     This  comforts  me." — Letter  766. 

49.  "  O,  to  be  nothing,  that  Jesus  may  be  all !" 

50.  "The  more  we  are  cast  out,  the  more  will  Jesus  come 
into  us." 

51.  "O,  let  us  follow  Him,  though  it  be  through  a  sea  of 
blood  1" 

52.  "Let  us  be  all  heart." 

53.  "  I  am  a  sink  of  sin  and  corruption." 

54.  "I  want  to  see  my  own  faults  more,  and  others'  less." 

55.  "The  best  preparation  for  preaching  on  Sunday,  is  to 
preach  every  day  in  the  week." 

56.  "The  world  wants  more  heat  than  light." 

57.  "As  the  love  of  God  comes  in,  the  fear  of  man  goes 
out." 

58.  "O,  the  blessedness  of  leaving  all  for  Jesus !" 


WHITEFIELDS    SAYINGS.  3/1 

59.  "Having  nothing,  yet  possessing  all  things,   must  be 
my  motto  still." 

60.  "  O,  what  a  blessed  thing  is  it  to  follow  Jesus  blind- 
fold !" 

61.  "I  must  have  something  of  Christ  in  all  my  letters." 

62.  "  Prayer,  reading,  meditation  and   temptation  make  a 
minister." 

63.  "  My  Master  walked,  I  ride  to  preach  the  glorious  gos- 
pel." 

64.  "O,  that  I  could  fly  from  pole  to  pole  publishing  the 
everlasting  gospel." 

65.  "I  find  Christ's  service  to  be  perfect  freedom." 

66.  "The  very  writing   or  hearing  the  word  Eternity,  is 
enough  to  make  one  dead  to  the  world,  and  alive  to  God." 

6y.  "  Less  than  the  least  of  all,  shall  be  my  motto  still." 
"  My  heart  is  full." 

68.  "Lord,  make  us  all  flames  of  fire." 

69.  "  O,  my  ignorance !  my  ignorance  I" 

70.  "  I  am  ready  to  sink  into  the  earth,  when   I  consider 
how  little  I  can  do  for  Jesus." 

71.  "Nearly  forty  years  old,  and  such  a  dwarf!" 

72.  "  I  stop  to  weep.     Farewell."     "  I  want  to  be  a  flame 
of  fire." 


CHAPTER     XXXVII 


SECRET    OF   WHITEFIELDS    SUCCESS. 

AVING  seen  so  much  of  his  mighty  genius,  elo- 
quence and  power,  we  come  now  to  notice 
more  particularly  the  secret  of  his  success. 
Whiteficld  was  a  self^nade  man.  Born  and 
brought  up  in  poverty,  he  had  to  hoe  his  own 
row,  and  he  hoed  it  well.  When  we  look  at  the 
low  state  of  a  mere  "  pot  boy,"  and  "  conmion 
drawer  "  from  which  he  rose  to  the  lofty  position 
of  being  the  greatest  orator  and  best  preacher  in  the  world, 
the  secret  of  his  success  is  somewhat  difficult  to  analyze  and 
comprehend.  When  we  look  at  him  washing  pots  and  scrub- 
bing floors,  and  then  view  him  in  the  pulpit  swaying  the  masses, 
electrifying  the  noble  lords  and  learned  skeptics  of  England, 
and  infusing  fresh  life  into  the  dead  churches  of  Great  Britain 
and  America,  the  power  of  his  genius  and  eloquence  is  wonder- 
ful. When  we  look  at  the  difficulties  he  encountered,  the  sac- 
rifices he  made,  the  persecutions  he  endured,  and  the  great 
good  he  accomplished,  the  grandeur  and  glory  of  his  success  is 
enough  to  astonish  the  world.  And  the  question  how  he  rose 
so  high  and  accomplished  so  much  is  worthy  of  the  most 
careful  consideration. 

First  he  began  loiv  and  laid  a  good  foundation  in  his  sound 
conversion.  By  the  grace  of  God,  Whitefield  was  deeply 
humbled.  The  severe  pangs  and  the  awful  struggle  through 
which  he  passed  in  his   regeneration,  brought  him  very  low. 

(372) 


SECRET   OF   WHITEFIELDS    SUCCESS.  3/3 

The  conflict  was  so  severe  "he  prayed  and  fasted  himself  ahiiost 
to  death."  "  Whole  days  and  weeks,"  he  says,  "  have  I  spent 
in  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground,  in  silent  or  vocal  prayer," 
wrestling  with  God  for  salvation.  This  severe  conflict  taught 
him  to  be  humble,  to  appreciate  the  grace  of  Go<:l  bestowed 
upon  him,  and  doubtless  did  much  in  preparing  him  for  the 
great  work  before  him.  Although  thus  deeply  humbled,  yet 
longing  to  get  still  lower,  Whitefield  often  prayed,  "God  give 
me  humility,  or  I  die."  "O,  that  I  may  lie  low  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus."  And  being  tempted  to  pride  and  vanity  by  his  great 
popularity  and  success,  he  often  besought  his  friends  to  pray 
that  he  might  be  kept  humble.  He  felt  that  his  popularity  was 
too  much  for  one  man.  The  very  thoughts  of  it,  he  says,  "  lay 
me  low,  but  I  can't  get  low  enough.  I  would  willingly  sink 
into  nothing  before  the  blessed  Jesus,  my  all  in  all."  Yet  he 
often  felt  so  humble  and  unworthy  "  that  he  could  neither 
.speak  nor  act  for  God." 

Whitefield's  severe  pangs  in  regeneration,  and  his  thorough 
conversion,  prepared  the  way  for  his  oitlvc  consecration.  Filled 
with  gratitude  and  unutterable  joy  upon  his  conversion,  with 
his  deep  consciousness  of  the  great  things  God  had  done  for 
him,  he  felt  an  obligation  as  strong  as  death,  high  as  heaven, 
and  deep  as  hell,  to  preach  the  gospel  and  live  for  Christ. 
Commencing  to  preach  when  the  Christian  world  was  wrapt  in 
a  deep  sleep,  when  he  .saw  the  piety  of  the  church  so  low,  and 
iniquity  raging  so  high,  his  spirit  was  deeply  stirred  within 
him.  With  his  deep  convictions  of  divine  truth,  with  the  stern 
realities  of  eternity,  the  pains  of  hell  and  the  joys  of  heaven, 
always  vividly  set  before  him,  he  would  say,  "  Woe  is  unto  me 
if  I  preach  not  the  gospel."  Thms  overwhelmed  with  the 
powers  of  the  world  to  come,  with  his  heart  crucified  to  the 
world,  and    wholly    consecrated  to   God,  Whitefield,  like   Paul, 


374  LIFE    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

counted  all  things  but  loss  to  preach  the  gospel  and  win  souls 
to  Christ.  But  with  his  lofty  views  of  the  dignity  and  responsi- 
bility of  the  gospel  ministry,  he  was  very  slow  to  enter  it. 
Deeply  feeling  his  own  great  insufficiency  for  the  work,  and 
wishing  to  finish  his  education,  he  long  prayed  earnestly  against 
entering  it  so  soon.  "  Lord,"  he  repeatedly  cried,  "  do  not  let 
me  go  yet."  And  says  he,  "  I  have  prayed  a  thousand  times,  till 
the  sweat  has  dropped  from  my  face  like  rain,  that  God  of  His 
infinite  mercy  would  not  let  me  enter  the  ministry  till  He  called 
and  thrust  me  forth  into  His  work."  Afraid  he  would  be  puffed 
up  with  pride  and  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil,  agon- 
izing in  prayer,  again  he  cried,  ''Lord,  let  me  not  go  yet!'  And 
it  was  not  until  the  encouraging  words,  "  Nothing  shall  pluck 
you  out  of  my  hands,"  came  fresh  to  his  mind  and  warm  to 
his  heart,  that  he  said, 

"lord,  I  WILL  go; 

"Send  me  where  Thou  wilt."  And  "when  the  bishop  laid  his 
hands  upon  my  head,  if  my  heart  doth  not  deceive  me,  I 
offered  up  my  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body  to  the  service  of 
God's  sanctuary.  Let  come  what  will,  life  or  death,  depth  or 
height,  I  shall  henceforward  live  like  one  who  this  day,  in  the 
presence  of  men  and  angels,  took  the  holy  sacrament,  upon  the 
profession  of  being  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to 
take  upon  me  the  ministration  in  the  church.  I  can  call 
heaven  and  earth  to  witness,  that  when  the  bishop  laid  his 
hand  upon  my  head, 

"  I  gave  myself  up  to  be  a  martyr  for  Him, 
Who  hung  upon  the  cross  for  me. 

I  have  thrown  myself  blindfold,  and  I  trust  without  reserve, 
into  His  almighty  hands."  This  is  veiy  strong  language,  yet 
spoken  from  the  depths  of  his  heart;  he  fully  meant  it  all.     It, 


SECRET    OF    VVHITEFIELD's    SUCCESS.  375 

as  well  as  his  aftei-  life,  exhibits  a  consecration  to  God  un- 
equaled  since  the  days  of  the  apostles;  and  going  on  from 
strength  to  strength,  he  intensified  it  till  the  day  of  his  death. 
Whitefield  frequently  had  the  offer  of  large  presents  of  money, 
but  he  always  promptly  refused  them,  saying,  "/  make  no 
purse!'  A  generous  lady  of  Edinburgh  twice  offered  him  a 
present  of  ;^7,ooo  sterling,  which  he  twice  positively  refused. 
Crucified  to  the  world,  he  labored  for  men's  souls — not  for  their  . 
purses.  Becoming  more  and  more  dead  to  self,  and  more  and 
more  alive  to  God,  he  says,  "  I  often  sit  in  silence,  offering  my 
soul  as  so  much  clay  to  be  stamped  just  as  my  heavenly  Potter 
pleases;"  and  expecting  at  times  soon  to  burn  at  the  stake,  he 
said, "  I  care  not  what  I  suffer,  so  that  souls  are  brought  to  Christ. 

0  for  more  bodies,  more  tongues,  more  lives,  to  be  employed 
in  the  service  of  my  Master !      O,  for  power  equal  to  my  will. 

1  would  fly  from  pole  to  pole  publishing  the  everlasting  gospel 
of  the  Son  of  God."  Having  no  family  to  enrich,  no  denomi- 
nation to  establish,  and  no  name  to  immortalize,  he  often  said, 

"  Let  the  name  of  George  Whitefield  perish,  if  God  be  glori-  v^ 
fied."  Always  on  the  stretch  for  God,  everything  he  said  and 
did  was  tempered  with  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and  tinged  with  the 
blood  of  Jesus.  He  spent  not  a  moment  of  time  nor  a  cent  of 
money  but  for  God.  Even  in  courting  a  wife,  he  could  not 
help  preaching  to  a  sinner.  In  proposing  marriage,  "  he  could 
not  help  stating  the  terms  of  a  holier  espousal.  He  drank 
divinity  from  air,  ocean,  earth  and  heaven.  His  very  fun  was 
tinctured  with  the  hues  of  eternity."  And  burning  with  a  love 
incapable  of  repulse,  he  shrank  from  no  privation,  insult  or 
opposition.  Once,  when  called  to  speak  of  his  family,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  But  why  talk  of  my  wife  and  child?  Let  all  be 
absorbed  in  the  thought  of  the  love  and  full  salvation  of  the 
glorious  Emmanuel."     "  O,  that  I  had  a  thousand  lives,  I  would 


3/6  LIFE    OF    WIIITEFIELD. 

devote  them  all  to  Jesus !  "  A  living  mass  of  consecration  to 
God,  he  said,  "I  prefer  Christ's  reproach  to  all  the  treasures 
of  the  world." 

Again,  Whitefield's  thorough  consecration  prepared  the 
way  for  his  almost  superhuman  labors.  Whitcfield  was  pre- 
eminently a  great  ivorker.  He  had  many  earnest  co-workers, 
but  like  Paul,  "  he  labored  more  abundantly  than  they  all." 
With  his  whole-hearted  consecration,  he  was  the  very  imperson- 
ation of  zeal  and  earnestness.  Like  Jesus,  he  went  about  do- 
ing good.  With  the  world  for  his  parish,  no  place  could  long 
contain  him.  Possessing  an  insatiable  desire  to  evangelize  and 
win  souls,  he  felt,  "  Woe  is  unto  me  if  I  do  not  go  about 
preaching  the  gospel."  With  his  broad,  large-hearted  views 
and  Christ-like  desires,  he  says,  "I  iniist  evangelize."  lie 
gloried  in  it.  It  was  his  meat  and  drink.  Like  a  flying  ang'.l 
having  the  everlasting  gospel,  he  went  forth  to  reap,  and  let 
John  Wesley  follow  to  gather  and  shock — and  he  did  it  well. 

Having  electrified  England  and  "  alarmed  all  London"  with 
his  eloquence,  and  having  received  a  pressing  call  to  America, 
late  in  December,  1737,  he  embarked  for  Georgia.  Being 
always  on  the  alert  to  do  good,  no  sooner  had  he  got  aboard 
than  he  began  to  search  for  souls  on  the  ship.  Here,  with  a 
ship  full  of  soldiers,  "  he  found  little  but  cards,  cursing  and 
blasphemy."  At  first  they  treated  him  as  an  impostor,  and  for 
a  while  turned  the  ship  into  a  gambling  saloon.  But  by  his 
persevering  efforts,  crawling  on  his  hands  and  knees  between 
decks  to  visit  the  sick  and  relieve  the  poor,  they  were  soon 
glad  to  hear  him  preach.  A  great  reformation  followed. 
Cards  and  bad  books  were  thrown  overboard.  The  swearer 
ceased  to  .swear,  the  scoffer  to  scofT,  and  with  many  hopeful 
°  conversions  and  two  awakened  captains,  the  interest  became  so 
great  that  ere  they  reached  America,  "  the  great  cabin  became 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELDS    SUCCESS.  37/ 

a  Bethel,"  the  deck  a  church,  and  the  stern  a  school-room. 
Preach  and  work,  and  work  and  preach,  was  his  daily  business 
ior  years.  Poor  and  persevering,  he  worked  his  own  way 
through  college  by  blacking  boots  and  cleaning  rooms. 
Thirsting  for  souls,  he  often  preached  to  crowded  houses  be- 
fore day,  and  sung  and  prayed  all  night.  "  Whole  days  and 
weeks,"  he  says,  "  have  I  spent  lying  prostate  on  the  ground, 
m  silent  or  vocal  prayer."  Striving  to  understand  the  Scrip- 
tures, he  read  through  Henry's  Commentary  on  the  Bible,  on 
his  knees,  praying  over  every  line  of  divine  truth.  He  loved 
preaching  so  well,  that  he  said,  "  to  be  prohibited  from  it  is 
worse  than  death."  And  when  we  look  at  his  many  long, 
laborious  preaching  tours  through  England,  Scotland,  Wales, 
Ireland  and  America,  and  the  earliest,  exhausting  manner  he 
preached,  "sweating  through  and  through,"  and  often  till  they 
expected  him  to  die  every  minute,  his  labors  seem  almost 
superhuman.  Besides  all  this,  Whitefield  was  pre-eminently  a 
man  of  prayer.  He  often  spent  whole  nights  in  prayer. 
Prayer  and  his  earnest  devotional  spirit,  was  the  great  secret 
of  his  success.  His  victories  in  the  field  were  first  won  in  the 
closet.  He  triumphed  in  the  pulpit,  because  he  triumphed  at 
a  throne  of  grace.  He  was  a  powerful  preacher,  because  he 
was  a  powerful  supplicator.  Always  abounding  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord,  during  his  ministry  of  thirty-four  years,  Whitefield 
crossed  the  ocean  thirteen  times  and  preached  over  18,000 
sermons.  He  generally  preached  two  or  three  times  a 
day  on  week  days,  three  or  four  times  a  day  on  Sundays, 
and  on  one  day  he  preached  seven  times  without  being 
tired.  After  the  day's  preaching  was  over,  he  usually  spent 
two  or  three  hours  at  night  talking  to  the  people  in  as 
many  social  prayer  meetings.  He  usually  had  a  large  crowd 
pf  inquirers  at  his  door,  seeking  religious  instruction. 


3/8  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

Through  excessive  labor  and  severe  exposure,  he  was  often 
very  sick.  "  But  generally  the  pulpit  was  his  cure."  Weak 
with  labor  and  disease,  and  strengthened  by  sanctified  affliction, 
when  pale  as  death  and  looking  like  one  just  risen  from  the 
dead,  he  would  go  out  and  preach  with  wonderful  solemnity 
and  power.  Once  when  very  sick,  when  his  pains  were  tempo- 
rarily suspended,  he  said  to  his  physician,  "  By  the  help  of  God 
I'll  go  and  preach,  and  come  home  and  die."  And  feeling  "  it 
hard  to  keep  silent,"  he  often  preached  when  not  able  to  get 
into  his  carriage,  or  on  his  horse.  And  when  worked  almost 
to  death,  his  friends  would  cry,  "Spare  thyself,"  but  he 
always  replied,  "  No  nestling  this  side  heaven."  "  Determined 
in  Christ's  strength,"  as  he  says,  "  to  die  fighting,  though  it  be 
on  my  stumps,"  he  preached  daily,  though  unwell,  for  two 
months  immediately  preceding  his  death,  and  .a  two-hours' 
sermon  the  day  before  he  died.  Thus  the  "  flaming  seraph" 
died  at  his  post,  and  fell  in  the  zenith  of  his  glory.  Yet  with 
all  his  abundant  labors,  near  the  close  of  his  life,  he  exclaimed, 
"  O,  loving  Jesus,  how  little,  how  very  little,  have  I  done  and 
suffered  for  Thee!" 

Another  distinguishing  trait  in  Whitefield's  character  was 
his  strong  friendship.  With  his  supreme  unselfishness,  tender 
warm-heartedness,  Christ-like  compassion,  and  deep,  flowing 
affections,  his  friendship  was  very  strong  and  grasping.  By 
the  magic  power  of  his  tender  touch,  he  would  win  your  heart, 
by  shaking  your  hand.  His  devotion  to  his  friends,  his  sym- 
pathy for  sinners,  his  tender-heartedness  to  the  afflicted,  and  his 
charitableness  to  the  poor,  evince  a  depth  of  friendship  un- 
equaled,  we  believe,  since  the  days  of  the  apostles.  "This,  of 
all  others,"  said  John  Wesley,  "  I  have  frequently  thought  was 
the  distinguishing  part  of  his  character.  Was  it  not  principally 
hy  this  that  the  hearts  of  others  were  so  strongly  drawn  and 


SECRET   OF  WHITEFIELD's  SUCCESS.  379 

knit  to  him  ?  Can  anything  but  love  beget  love  ?  This  shone 
in  his  very  countenance,  and  continually  breathed  in  all  his 
words,  whether  in  public  or  private.  Was  it  not  this,  which 
quick  and  penetrating  as  lightning,  flew  from  heart  to  heart, 
which  gave  that  life  to  his  sermons,  his  conversation  and  letters, 
judge  ye?"  Of  his  old  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Habersham,  he 
said,  "If  I  forget  you,  may  my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning. 
Indeed,  indeed,  I  love  you  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus  Christ." 
Closely  knit  to  others,  he  often  said,  "  I  love  you  as  my  own 
soul — I  love  you  with  all  my  heart."  Sometimes,  he  says, 
"  The  people  would  stop  me  in  the  alleys  of  the  churches,  hug 
me  in  their  arms,  and  follow  me  with  wishful  eyes."  Glowing 
with  compassion  and  friendship  for  the  poor,  he  was  determined 
"  to  be  sold  as  a  slave  to  serve  the  galleys,  rather  than  see  his 
poor  orphans  suffer."  When  he  went  to  Frederica  to  preach, 
"  he  looked  for  persecution,"  but  "  lo,"  he  says,  "  I  am  received  as 
an  angel  of  God."  With  his  strong  friendship,  Whitefield  "  made 
friends  fast,  and  held  them  long."  Their  mutual  affection  was 
often  so  strong,  that  their  grief  at  parting  was  almost  overpow- 
ering. Parting,  with  him,  was  almost  like  death.  Like  Paul 
when  leaving  Caesarea,  Whitefield  could  say,  "  What  mean  you 
to  weep  and  break  my  heart?"  Farewell  sermons  and  parting 
scenes  were  often  so  tender  and  touching  that  sometimes  he 
called  it  "  execution  day!'  When  preaching  his  last  farewell 
sermon  in  London,  he  said,  "  When  I  put  on  my  surplice,  to 
come  out  to  read  the  second  service,  I  thought  I  was  just  like 
a  person  being  decently  dressed  to  go  out  to  be  executed ;  I 
would  rather,  was  it  the  will  of  God  it  should  be  so,  than  feel 
what  I  do  in  parting  from  you,  then  death  would  put  an  end  to 
all:  but  I  am  to  be  executed  again  and  again,  and  nothing  will 
support  me  under  the  torture  but  the  consideration  of  God's 
blessing  me  to  some  poor  souls."     When  Whitefield  left  Bos- 


3f?0  LIFE   OF   WHITEPIELD. 

ton,  the  cultured  Governor  Belcher  wept  and  kissed  him  most 
affectionately.  The  last  time  he  was  in  Scotland,  the  affection 
for  him  was  so  strong,  he  said,  "  I  was  in  danger  of  being 
hugged  to  death."  When  the  leader  of  a  mob  entered  his 
room  to  kill  him,  Whitefield  treated  him  so  kindly,  he  could 
not  touch  him.     Thus  his  kindness  saved  his  life. 

Hear  his  melting  farewell  at  Savannah.  "  Oh  what  a  sweet 
meeting  I  had  with  my  friends  !  When  I  left  them,  my  heart 
was  ready  to  break  with  sorrow,  but  now  it  almost  bursts  with 
joy.  Oh,  how  did  each  in  turn  hang  upon  my  neck,  kiss  and 
weep  over  me  with  tears  of  joy !  And  my  own  soul  was  so  full 
of  a  sense  of  God's  love,  when  I  embraced  one  friend  in  par- 
ticular, that  I  thought  I  should  have  expired  on  the  spot." 

Back  of,  and  underlying  these  grand  traits  in  Whitefield's 
character,  was  his  great  faith.  Whitefield  was  a  man  of  z/^?y 
deep,  strong  convictions.  He  took  God  at  His  word,  and  acted 
as  though  he  believed  what  He  said.  To  him  the  Bible  was 
no  fable.  Eternity,  heaven  and  hell,  God  and  the  devil,  Jesus 
Christ  and  the  story  of  the  cross,  to  him  were  stern  realities. 
And  with  his  towering  faith,  he  had  a  firm,  deep,  abiding  reali- 
zation of  them  but  few  ever  possessed.  This  gave  him  power. 
By  faith  he  saw,  received  and  enjoyed  so  much  of  Jesus,  that 
it  enabled  him  to  preach  Him  with  unequaled  power  and  suc- 
cess. With  his  sublime  faith,  the  wailings  of  the  damned  and 
the  joys  of  the  redeemed  were  so  vividly  set  before  him,  that, 
in  his  grand  descriptions,  he  seemed  to  bring  hell  up  and 
heaven  down  upon  earth.  Although  filled  with  fear  and 
trembling  at  times,  in  view  of  his  expected  fiery  trials,  yet  with 
his  overcoming  faith,  he  says,  "  When  I  remember  that  God 
has  stirred  up  His  choicest  servants  to  pray  for  me,  my  fears 
vanish :  methinks  I  could  then  leap  into  a  burning,  fiery  fur- 
nace, or  bear  to  be  thrown  into  a  den  of  devouring  lions."     On 


SECRET    OF    WlUTEFIELn's    SUCCESS.  38  I 

one  occasion,  when  buffeted  by  Satan,  and  tossed  upon  the 
ocean's  surging  waves,  when  nearing  the  shores  of  England,  he 
exclaimed,  "O,  Satan,  Satan,  I  defy  thee  to  do  thy  worst;  thou 
mayest  toss  me  up  and  down,  and  bring  me  into  jeopardy  on 
every  side,  but  Jesus  Christ  is  praying  for  me,  and  I  know  I 
shall  soon  have  a  happy  meeting  with  my  friends  "  in  London. 
Hence,  he  says,  "  Let  us  keep  the  grace  of  faith  in  lively  exer- 
cise, and  we  may  bid  death  and  hell  defiance."  Whiteficld, 
like  Paul,  gloried  in  tribulation.  And  with  the  faith  and 
patience  of  Job,  he  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  be  God,  though  He 
slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  Him."  Wrought  up  by  the  mighty 
power  of  God's  grace,  he  often  rose  very  high.  At  times  he 
seemed  to  walk  between  the  very  cherubims  of  glory ;  and  gloiy- 
ing  in  his  blessed  assurance,  with  his  lofty,  overcoming  faith,  he 
would  sometimes  exclaim,  with  exquisite  joy,  "  My  Lord  and, 
MY  Gody  Expecting  to  die  a  martyr  for  Jesus,  with  his  Christ- 
like submission,  he  would  say,  "  His  love  will  sweeten  every 
cup,  though  ever  so  bitter."  "  'Twill  be  sweet  to  wear  a 
martyr's  crown." 

His  strong  faith  was  a  principal  element  in  his  success. 
"  If,"  says  John  Wesley,  "  it  be  asked  what  wa.s  the  foundation 
of  his  integrity,  courage,  patience,  and  every  other  valuable 
quality,  it  is  easy  to  give  the  answer.  It  was  no  other  than 
faith — faith  in  the  operation  of  God."  And  if  the  patriarchs 
and  prophets  of  old  "through  faith  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought 
righteousness,  obtained  promises,  stopped  the  mouths  of  lions, 
quenched  the  violence  of  fire,  out  of  weakness  were  made 
strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  and  turned  to  flight  the  armies 
of  the  aliens,"  it  is  no  wonder  that  Whitefield  astonished  the 
world,  revived  Christianity,  shook  the  devil's  throne,  and 
"  made  hell  tremble  before  him."  By  faith  he  broke  over  the 
iron-clad  forms  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  preached  out  doors, 


382  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

and  carried  the  gospel  to  the  perishing  millions  of  Great 
Britain  and  America.  By  faith  "he  smote  the  rock  "of  the 
church's  resources,  and  streams  of  life  and  salvation  gushed 
out.  By  faith  "he  touched  the  dead  corpse  of  a  dead  palsied 
church,  it  rose  and  stood  upon  its  feet." 

Bringing  these  distinguishing  traits  together,  we  come  now 
to  notice  him  more  particularly  as  an  orator.  The  eloquence 
of  Whitefield  burst  upon  the  world  like  a  volcanic  eruption — 
like  torrents  of  red-hot  lava,  it  carried  everything  before  it. 
Commencing  to  preach  when  the  church  was  wrapt  in  a  deep 
sleep,  he  soon  caused  it  to  awake  and  put  on  its  strength. 
Endowed  with  power  from  on  high,  with  a  soul  lit  up  by 
God's  Spirit,  and  an  eye  gushing  with  tears,  he  held  spell- 
bound the  low,  the  learned,  and  the  great.  With  a  heart  melt- 
ing with  compassion  and  glowing  with  love  and  zeal,  his  vast 
congregations  hung  upon  his  lips,  melting  like  wax  before  him. 
Thrilled  and  electrified  by  his  irresistible  power,  he  swayed 
them  at  his  will.  With  his  powers  of  eloquence,  he  could 
make  them  smile  or  weep  as  he  chose.  Wrought  up  to  the 
highest  pitch  of  ardor,  with  his  shrewd  sagacity  and  masterly 
strokes  of  eloquence,  he  could  touch  and  melt  the  hardest 
heart.  He  won  many  of  the  most  obdurate.  Often  have  men 
gone  to  church  to  break  his  head  with  stones,  when  his  ser- 
mon could  break  their  hearts  with  arguments.  "  His  elocu- 
tion was  perfect." — (Southey.) 

Do  you  ask  how  he  became  so  eloquent  ?  What  was  the 
secret  of  his  mighty  power  ?  Besides  his  distinguishing  traits 
already  mentioned,  and  his  eminent  natural  gifts,  Whitefield 
studied  oratory.  He  spared  no  pains  to  make  his  elocution 
perfect.  He  searched  the  best  authors,  and  studied  hard  to 
show  himself  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed. 
He  studied  to  be  natural,  and  paid  special  attention  to  deliv 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELD's    SUCCESS.  383 

ery.  Hence  he  improved  by  practice.  "  Foote  and  Garrick 
maintained  that  his  oratory  was  not  at  its  full  height,  until  he 
had  repeated  a  discourse  forty  times,"  Benjamin  Franklin  says, 
"  by  hearing  him  often,  I  came  to  distinguish  easily  between 
sermons  newly  composed,  and  those  he  had  preached  often. 
His  delivery  of  the  latter  was  so  improved  by  frequent  repeti- 
tion, that  every  accent,  every  emphasis,  every  modulation  of 
the  voice,  was  so  perfectly  tuned  and  well  placed,  that  without 
being  interested  in  the  subject,  one  could  not  help  being 
pleased  with  the  discourse :  a  pleasure  of  much  the  same 
kind  with  that  received  from  an  excellent  piece  of  music." 
Whitefield  sought  out  "  acceptable  tones,  gestures  and  looks,  as 
well  as  acceptable  words,"  In  a  word,  "  he  searched  creation 
for  figures,  time  for  facts,  heaven  for  motives,  hell  for  warn- 
ings, eternity  for  arguments." — (Philips.)  He  recommended 
the  study  of  oratory  in  the  American  Colleges,  provided  for 
it  in  Bethesda,  and  rebuked  Oxford  for  neglecting  it. 

Filled  with  unction,  reverence  and  awe,  as  a  preacher, 
Whitefield  was  always  grave  and  solemn.  There  was  no 
levity,  nothing  awkward,  nothing  careless  about  him  in  the 
pulpit.  "  Whether  he  stamped,  or  wept,  whether  he  seemed  a 
lion  or  a  lamb,"  all  was  deeply  solemn.  Deeply  affected  with 
"  the  deep  things  of  God,"  and  the  stern  realities  of  eternity, 
though  naturally  very  lively  and  cheerful,  he  was  always  sol- 
emn in  the  pulpit.  His  vein  of  wit  and  humor  never  be- 
trayed him  into  levity.  In  all  his  histrionic  flights,  vivid  de- 
scriptions and  sparkling  strokes  of  wit  and  eloquence,  he 
always  maintained  his  characteristic  gravity.  An  old  man 
who  heard  him  often,  said,  "  Whitefield  preached  like  a  lion, 
and  looked  like  an  angel."  With  his  glowing  zeal,  lofty  dar- 
ing, commanding  majesty,  and  angelic  appearance,  he  was 
called  "The  Seraphic."     With  his   grand,  noble    simplicity 


3-H  LIFE    OF    WHITFFIELD. 

and  characteristic  opcn-heartediicss,  Whitefield  was  also 
deeply  sincere,,  and  perfectly  natural.  There  was  nothing 
"  put  on,"  or  far-fetched  about  him.  Whether  he  frowned  or 
smiled,  whether  he  looked  grave  or  placid,  all  was  perfectly 
natural.  To  be  clear,  natural,  sincere  and  earnest,  are  four 
grand  traits  in  a  public  speaker.     Whitefield  had  them  all. 

Another  source  of  Whitefield's  strength  was  his  graphic 
descriptions.  With  his  vivid  imagination,  beautiful  imagery 
and  superior  dramatic  powers,  his  descriptions  are  often  most 
graphic  and  grand.  Living  so  nigh  to  God,  and  basking  so 
near  His  throne,  with  his  lofty  expanded  view  of  heavenly 
things,  he  described  them  with  overwhelming  power.  Familiar 
with  the  life,  fired  with  the  love,  and  inspired  with  the  Cross  of 
Christ,  his  descriptions  of  His  sufferings  were  often  so  vivid 
and  graphic,  that  he  seemed  to  re-enact  the  thrilling  scenes  of 
Gethsemane  and  Calvary.  In  a  word,  every  thing  he  touched 
was  endued  with  life.  By  his  magic  power  and  brilliant  de- 
scriptions, he  seemed  to  "turn  man's  ears  into  eyes."  His 
pictures  were  so  graphic,  exact,  and  true  to  nature,  that  his 
hearers  were  made  to  believe  they  saw  what  he  described. 

Once  when  preaching  to  the  seamen  of  New  York,  he  gave 
such  a  vivid  description  of  a  storm  at  sea,  that  the  sailors  actu- 
ally thought  it  was  a  real  storm.  Hear  him — "Well,  my  boys, 
we  are  making  fine  headway  over  a  smooth  sea.  But  what 
means  this  sudden  lowering  of  the  heavens,  and  that  dark  cloud 
arising  from  beneath  the  western  horizon?  Hark!  Don't  you 
hear  distant  thunder?  Don't  you  see  those  flashes  of  light- 
ning? There  is  a  storm  gathering!  Every  man  to  his  dut}'! 
How  the  waves  rise  and  dash  against  the  ship!  The  air  is 
dark!  The  tempest  rages!  Our  masts  are  gone!  The  ship 
is  on  her  beam  ends."  And  when  he  asked,  "What  next?" 
"The  unsiisp(xting  tars,"  as  if  struck  by  magic,  rose  and  unit- 


SECRET   OF   WIIITEFIELd's    SUCCESS,  385 

edly  exclaimed,  "Take  to  the  long  boat."  Again,  to  illustrate 
the  careless  sinner's  danger,  he  compared  him  to  an  old  beg- 
gar led  by  a  little  dog,  chained  to  his  staffl  Walking  along 
the  edge  of  an  awful  precipice,  all  of  a  sudden,  the  little  dog 
made  a  plunge  and  jerked  the  cane  out  of  the  old  man's  hands. 
Now  alone,  he  has  to  feel  his  way.  There  he  goes,  staggering 
along — and  when  about  to  stoop  down  to  feel  his  way,  and  just 
ready  to  tumble  over  the  awful  precipice.  Lord  Chesterfield, 
mistaking  the  description  for  the  transaction,  rose  and  rushed 
forward  to  save  him,  exclaiming,  "Good  God!  he  is  gone!" 
With  his  magic  "Hark!"  and  lofty  impersonation,  Whitefield 
could  so  conjure  up  the  melting  scenes  of  Gethsemane,  that 
one  could  almost  see  the  agonizing  Saviour  in  His  bloody  con- 
flict. "  Look  yonder,"  he  would  say,  stretching  his  hand  and 
pointing  as  he  spoke,  "What  is  that  I  see?  It  is  my  agonizing 
Lord!  Hark!  Hark!  do  you  not  hear  Him?  O  my  Father, 
if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me,  nevertheless,  not  my 
will,  but  Thine  be  done!" 

Another  distinguishing  trait  in  Whitefield's  eloquence,  was 
his  deep  patJios.  Pathos  is  power.  And  filled  with  unction, 
compassion  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  Whitefield  was  very  pathetic. 
He  wept  nearly  every  sermon  he  preached,  and  often  vciy  pro- 
fusely. Sometimes  he  paused  in  his  sermons  to  weep.  White- 
field  was  a  ]ieart  preacher.  He  spoke  from  the  heart.  And 
while  he  did  much  to  enlighten  the  mind,  like  the  great  Mas- 
silon,  he  aimed  at  the  heart.  His  sermons  were  ebullitions  of 
the  heart.  Glowing  with  zeal,  and  flashing  with  light,  love  and 
power,  he  enlightened  the  mind,  charmed  the  imagination  and 
warmed  the  heart.  Says  Edwards,  he  preached  "in  a  most 
moving  and  affecting  manner."  After  convincing  the  sinner's 
judgment,  probing  his  conscience,  and  rending  his  heart  with 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  he  would  lead  him  to  the  Cross,  and 
25 


386  LIFE   OF   WHITEFIELD. 

there  pour  into  his  soul  such  melting  torrents  of  a  Saviour's 
love,  that  would  soon  melt  his  heart  into  sorrow  and  contrition. 
Thus  with  "his  alternate  bursts  of  passion  and  terror,"  he  won 
many  of  the  most  obdurate.  Often  have  men  gone  to  church 
to  break  his  head  with  stones,  when  his  sermon  would  break 
their  hearts  with  arguments.  Filled  with  the  most  intense 
emotions,  and  burning  with  the  most  intense  desires  to  win 
souls,  his  sermons  were  torrents  of  melting  pathos  and  power. 
"  The  salient  points  of  his  oratory  were  not  prepared  passages, 
they  were  bursts  of  passion,  like  jets  from  a  geyser  when  the 
spring  is  in  full  play"  (Southey).  This  is  according  to  Web- 
ster, who  says,  "  Eloquence  exists  in  the  occasion."  With  his 
big,  whole-souled  ideas  just  born  of  the  Spirit,  and  red-hot  from 
the  Cross,  bubbling  up  from  the  depths  of  his  great,  God-like 
heart,  his  bursts  of  eloquence  were  perfectly  overwhelming. 
The  effect,  like  an  electrical  shock,  went  quick  as  lightning,  like 
a  mighty  wave  through  his  vast  congregations.  Bathed  in 
tears,  they  melted  like  wax  before  him.  Sometimes  the  very 
earth  seemed  to  quake,  and  the  heavens  to  drop  with  the  thun- 
der of  his  eloquence.  And  when,  with  his  melting  pathos,  he 
opened  up  the  fountains  of  eternal  life,  the  very  skies  seemed 
to  rain  down  righteousness.  Although  Whitefield  was  neither 
so  massive  in  intellect,  nor  so  powerful  in  argument,  nor  so 
acute  in  logic,  as  either  Chalmers  or  Edwards,  yet  as  an  orator, 
he  far  excelled  either  of  them.  With  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  human  nature,  and  his  keen  insight  into  the  human  heart, 
he  knew  just  when  and  how  to  strike.  He  had  the  tact  and 
the  power  of  darting  the  word  of  God  into  the  sinner's  heart, 
no  other  mere  man  ever  possessed.  When  he  preached  at 
Northampton,  the  great,  cool-headed  Edwards  wept  like  a  child. 
So  did  his  congregation.  When  he  spoke  at  the  Cambuslang 
communion,  the  effect  was  so  overwhelming,  the  people  crowded 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELD's    SUCCESS.  38/ 

SO  upon  him,  he  had  to  desist,  and  let  another  speak  in  his 
place.  Here,  where  they  preached  all  day,  and  prayed  all 
night,  with  "thousands  bathed  in  tears,"  he  says,  "the  people 
seem  to  be  slain  by  scores."  They  were  carried  off  like 
wounded  soldiers  from  "a  field  of  battle."  The  effect  was 
"  inexpressible."  Here  he  preached  again  on  Monday  to  about 
20,000,  and  "such  a  universal  stir,"  he  says,  "I  never  saw  be- 
fore." "  The  motion  fled  as  swift  as  lightning  from  one  end  of 
the  congregation  to  the  other."-  The  effect  was  tremendous. 
Wringing  their  hearts  with  grief,  many  were  "  mourning  over  a 
pierced  Saviour."  "  It  was  God  in  the  preacher  that  made  the 
word  efficacious." 

But  Whitefield  not  only  won  the  heart,  he  also  won  \\\^  purse.  0. 
With  his  Christ-like  pathos  and  melting  tenderness,  he  was  a  , 
most  successful  beggar.  Rending  the  heart  with  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit,  he  caused  the  purse  to  open  and  yield  up  its  treas- 
ures to  God.  Making  "  no  purse"  for  himself,  enabled  him  to 
draw  heavier  upon  others.  He  preached  money  out  of  the 
people.  Overcome  with  his  irresistible  eloquence  and  power, 
the  strong-minded  Benjamin  Franklin,  who  at  first  refused  to 
give  anything  at  Whitefield's  collection,  moved  by  his  elo- 
quence, before  he  got  through  his  sermon,  was  glad  to  give  all 
the  gold,  silver  and  copper,  (about  ;^25.oo)  he  had  in  his  pocket. 

Again,  Whitefield  was  bold.  With  his  towering  faith,  burn- 
ing zeal  and  daring  courage,  he  cried  aloud  and  spared  not. 
Filled  with  the  fear  of  God,  and  rising  above  the  fear  of  man, 
he  preached  the  truth  with  great  boldness.  Sharp,  quick  and 
powerful,  his  words  pierced  like  arrows,  and  cut  like  a  two- 
edged  sword.  Where  other  men  of  talent  could  not  speak  for 
the  tumult,  Whitefield,  with  his  commanding  majesty  and  lofty 
genius,  spoke  with  great  power  and  perfect  order.  In  the  in- 
troduction of  field  preaching,  when  John  Wesley  was  so  tena- 


388  LIFE   OF    WHITEFIELD. 

cious  of  ecclesiastical  rule,  as  to  think  "the  saving  of  souls 
almost  a  sin  if  it  had  not  been  done  in  a  church,"  *  daring  all 
opposition,  Whitefield  boldly  went  forward  and  preached  to  the 
j)o<i|-  colliers  in  the  open  air  at  Hannam  Mount.  "The  Rubi- 
ccii  is  passed."  "The  battle's  fought,  the  victory  won."  Hell 
frowns,  Heaven  smiles,  for  now  "  the  poor  have  the  gospel 
preached  to  them."  This  was  a  very  bold  .strike.  With  it 
dawned  a  new  era  in  the  church.  To  it  Whitefield  and  Wesley 
owed  much  of  their  great  success.  The  poor  people,  so  long 
neglected,  now  flocked  to  hear  them  in  vast  crowds. 

Charged  with  heresy,  and  threatened  with  excommunica- 
tion, with  the  churches  all  shut  against  him,  they  thought  they 
would  now  stop  his  preaching.  But  with  his  unconquerable 
will  and  unquenchable  zeal,  it  was  impossible.  Gagged  in  the 
city,  he  fled  to  the  country  where  the  people  flocked  by  acres 
and  heard  him  gladly.  No,  Whitefield  was  not  born  to  be 
muzzled.  Moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  constrained  by  a 
Saviour's  love,  preach  he  must  and  preach  he  would.  For  him 
to  be  silent  was  more  intolerable  than  death  itself  Nothing 
but  death  could  stop  him.  Bold  as  a  lion,  and  rising  above  all 
fear,  at  times  he  bid  "Satan,  death  and  hell  defiance."  Once 
when  sailing  amid  the  whirlpools  of  temptation,  when  Satan 
was  thrusting  his  fiery  darts  at  his  heart,  Whitefield  triumph- 
antly exclaimed  "  God  is  on  my  side,  I  will  not  fear  what  man 
or  devils  say  or  do  unto  me." 

Still  advancing  in  his  bold  flights  of  oratory,  on  one  occa- 
sion he  rose  so  high,  he  ventured  to  command  the  recording 
angel  Gabriel,  to  wait  for  the  conversion  of  a  sinner.  After  a 
solemn  pause  in  his  stirring  peroration,  he  said,  "  The  attendant 
angel  is  just  about  to  leave  the  threshold  of  this  sanctuary  and 
ascend  to  heaven.     And  shall  he  ascend,  and  not  bear  with  him 

*  Tyerman's  Life  of  Wesley,  Vol.  I,  page  233. 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELD's    SUCCESS.  389 

the  news  of  one  sinner  among  all  this  multitude,  reclaimed  from  "' 
the  error  of  his  ways?"  To  give  the  greater  effect  to  this  ex- 
clamation, Whitefield  stamped  with  his  foot,  lifted  up  his 
hands  and  eyes  to  heaven  and  cried  aloud,  "Stop,  Gabriel," 
stop,  ere  you  enter  the  sacred  portals,  and  yet  carry  with  you 
the  news  of  one  sinner  converted  to  God."  Preaching  so  *^ 
boldly,  Whitefield  became  very  direct  and  pointed.  Always 
grasping  for  souls,  he  never  spoke  with  an  uncertain  sound. 
15old  and  fearless,  he  always  ilung  the  arrows  of  God  direct 
at  the  conscience  and  the  heart.  His  sermons  were  lull  of 
points  and  arrows.  The  spirit  of  Nathem's  reply  to  J)avid, 
"  ThotL  art  the  man''  flashes  from  every  page.  With  his  piercing  '^ 
eye  and  his  penetrating  "j^","  and  ''you','  and  ''thou','  he  made 
every  hearer  believe  "Jie  means  vie''  There  was  no  dodging 
his  pohshed  shafts.  Red-hot  from  the  cross,  and  dipt  in  the 
blood  of  Jesus,  and  flung  with  such  wonderful  skill  and  power, 
they  were  sure  to  stick  fast  and  do  great  execution.  While 
Shuter,  the  great  comedian,  was  acting  the  part  of  a  "Rajnlder" 
in  a  certain  play,  he  went  to  church  one  night  and  sat  right 
before  the  pulpit.  Waxing  very  warm  in  inviting  sinners  to 
the  Saviour,  Whitefield's  eye  fell  on  Shuter,  and  looking  him 
right  in  the  face,  he  exclaimed,  "And  thou  poor  'Rambler,' who 
hast  long  rambled  from  Him,  come  also.  Oh  end  your  rambling 
by  coming  to  Jesus."  The  effect  was  so  deep  Shuter  almost 
fainted;  and  on  coming  up  to  his  friend  Whitefield,  said, 
"  how  could  you  serve  me  so?"  But  the  grandest  display  of 
Whitefield's  boldness  was  in  his  great  field-victory  at  Moor- 
fields.  Here  many  thousands  had  met  for  diversion  on  the 
great  Easter  holidays.  With  a  heart  bleeding  for  their  salva- 
tion, daring  all  hazards,  accompanied  with  a  large  praying 
band,  he  ventured  out  among  them  at  6  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing.    With   10,000  of  them  waiting  around  him  for  their  wild 


390  LIFE    OF   WHITEFIELD. 

sport,  he  mounted  his  field  pulpit,  and  almost  all  immediately 
flocked  to  hear  him.  Having  thus,  as  he  says,  "  got  the  start 
of  the  devil,"  he  preached  to  them  with  great  power.  Stung 
with  conviction,  they  gazed,  listened,  wept.  Encouraged  with 
this  success,  he  ventured  out  again  at  noon ;  "  But  what  a 
scene!"  With  about  25,000  engaged  in  their  wild  sport,  the 
whole  fields  seemed  white  for  Beelzebub's  harvest.  Mounting 
his  pulpit  again,  he  preached  them  such  a  cutting  sermon, 
"they  honored  him  with  a  few  stones,  rotten  eggs,  and  dead 
cats."  The  assault  was  so  severe,  he  says,  "  My  soul  was  in- 
deed among  lions,  but  far  the  greater  part  of  my  congrega- 
tion seemed,  for  a  while,  to  be  turned  into  lambs."  Flushed 
with  this  great  victory,  he  struck  for  another,  and  preached 
again  at  six  to  a  much  larger  and  more  turbulent  crowd.  En- 
raged at  this,  Satan  urged  his  hosts  to  stand  their  ground.  But 
soon  as  they  saw  Whitefield  in  his  pulpit  robes,  they  all  flocked 
to  hear  him.  "  For  a  while  he  lifted  up  his  voice  like  a  trum- 
pet." The  conflict  rages.  Waxing  hotter  and  hotter, "  God's 
people  kept  praying,"  and  the  raging  mob  kept  roaring,  till  at 
length  they  came  up  and  tried  to  whip  him  down.  Then  they 
tried  to  drown  him  out  with  noise;  and  after  failing  in  another 
more  desperate  eflbrt,  conquered  by  prayer  and  Whitefield's 
powerful  eloquence  and  perseverance,  they  broke  up  and  went 
away.     The  meeting  lasted  about  three  hours.     At  the  close, 

.  with  about  one  thousand  deeply  convicted,  and  three  hundred 
and  fifty  hopefully  converted,  they  greatly  rejoiced  "that  so 
many  sinners  had  been  in  such  an  unexpected  way  snatched 
out  of  the  very  jaws  of  the  devil."  What  a  grand  victory! 
In  achieving  it,  Whitefield,  as  an  orator,  has  eclipsed  the  world, 
and  completely  out-generaled  the  devil. 

'.  Another  distinguishing  trait  in  Whitefield's  oratory,  was  his 
great  earnestness.     He  was  terribly  in  earnest.     It  is  said  of 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELDS    SUCCESS.  39 1 

Chalmers  that  his  great  strength  "  lay  in  his  blood  earnestness." 
It  was  so  with  Whitefield.  Without  this,  with  all  his  other 
eminent  gifts,  he  would  have  accomplished  but  little.  He  was 
not  only  a  great  worker,  but  he  prayed  and  preached  with  all 
his  might.  Awed  by  no  threats,  allured  by  no  temptations,  de- 
terred by  no  opposition,  like  a  mighty  conqueror,  he  went 
through  every  opposition.  Opposition  quailed  before  him. 
When  Satan  roared  loudest  Whitefield  expected  most.  Having 
escaped  a  furious  mob,  "all  a  gore  of  blood,-'  and  almost  stoned 
to  death,  instead  of  stopping  to  prosecute  his  persecutors,  he 
left  them  to  the  mercy  of  God,  and  went  right  on  with  his 
work.  Volleys  of  stones  and  gores  of  blood  daunted  him  not. 
Glowing  with  zeal  and  courage,  to  him  death  and  persecution 
had  no  fears,  and  the  grave  no  terrors.  A  living  sacrifice  to 
God,  and  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  was  the  very  embodi- 
ment of  earnestness.  Always  insatiable,  no  success  satisfied, 
no  glory  assuaged,  and  no  danger  alarmed  him.  With  a  heart 
gushing  with  love  and  compassion,  "  he  preached  till  he  sweat 
through  and  through."  His  zeal  consumed  him.  Overpowered 
with  zeal  and  emotions  in  preaching,  he  usually  vomited  after 
every  sermon.  He  often  preached  when  he  expected  to  die 
every  minute.  Burning  with  the  deepest  emotions  and  the 
strongest  desires,  his  sermons  were  bursts  of  red-hot  argu- 
ments, and  torrents  of  the  most  moving  elocjuence.  With 
nerves  of  iron  and  sinews  of  brass,  and  a  heart  of  compassion, 
he  grasped  his  Master's  work  with  that  tension  of  soul,  which 
knew  no  relaxation.  He  watched  it  "with  the  eye  of  an  eagle, 
and  the  appetite  of  a  vulture."  Invincible  in  his  plans,  indom- 
itable in  his  work,  nothing  daunted,  nothing  moved  him.  When 
preaching  at  Nottingham,  he  was  so  overpowered  with  a  sense 
of  God's  love,  he  said,  "  It  almost  took  my  breath."  Bold, 
vivid,  earnest,  his  ideas  came  red-hot  from  the  heart.     And 


392  LIFE    OF    WJiriEFlELD. 

coming  rcd-liot  from  the  cross,  they  pierced  the  heart  and  cut 
hke  a  two-edged  sword.  In  urging  sinners  to  Christ,  some- 
times he  became  so  earnest,  he  would  exclaim,  "O  earth,  earth, 
earth,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  !"  Fusing  eloquence,  wit  and 
logic  into  one  burning  stream,  eveiything  melted  before  him. 
Overwhelmed  with  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  he  some- 
times became  so  earnest,  rose  so  high,  and  got  so  full  of  God, 
he  could  do  nothing  but  shout  "  Hallelujah  !  Hallelujah  !  let 
chapel,  tabernacle,  heaven  and  earth  resound  with  hallelujah ! 
I  can  no  more;  my  heart  is  too  big  to  add  more!"  Some- 
times he  spoke  so  loud  he  could  be  heard  almost  a  mile.  Yet 
his  earnestness  did  not  consist  in  loud  speaking,  nor  in  strong 
expressions,  but  in  his  deep,  longing  desires,  which  rose  and 
gushed  from  his  great  heart  like  the  ebullitions  of  a  volcano. 
Like  Paul,  he  had  great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  of 
heart  for  sinners.  Once  when  beseeching  them  to  repent,  he 
said,  "Believe  me,  though  it  would  be  hell  to  my  soul  to  return 
to  a  natural  state  again,  yet  I  would  willingly  change  states 
with  you  for  a  little  while,  that  you  might  know  what  it  is  to 
have  Christ  dwelling  in  your  hearts  by  faith."  A  flame  of  fire 
and  a  flame  of  love,  all  was  life  and  animation  wherever  he 
went.  With  his  unconquerable  will,  and  unquenchable  desire 
for  souls,  there  was  in  him  an  "  intense  necessity  for  action." 
He  could  7iot  be  idle.  Preach  he  imist,  and  preach  lie  would. 
Sometimes  his  friends  would  cry,  "  Spare  thyself,"  but  he 
said,  "When  I  am  offering  Jesus  to  poor  sinners,  I  cannot  for- 
bear exerting  all  my  powers."  Once  when  warning  sinners  of 
their  danger,  and  beseeching  them  to  repent,  he  became  so 
warm  and  earnest,  that  he  exclaimed,  "O  my  God,  when  I 
think  of  this  I  could  go  to  the  gates  of  hell  to  preach  the  gos- 
,  pel."  For  many  years,  says  John  Wesley,  "  He  astonished  the 
world  with  his  eloquence  and  devotion."     Yet,  struck  with  the 


SECRET    OF    WHITEFIELDS    SUCCESS.  393 

sight  of  a  man  putting  a  piece  of  glass  into  one  furnace  after 
another  to  make  it  transparent,  and  still  longing  for  more  zeal 
and  holiness,  we  find  him  near  the  close  of  life,  earnestly  pray- 
ing, "  Oh  my  God,  put  me  into  one  furnace  after  another,  that 
my  soul  may  be  transparent,  that  I  may  see  God  as  He  is." 
And  going  on  thus,  with  unabated  zeal  till  death,  without  allow- 
ing himself  any  leisure  for  social  intercourse,  his  whole  life  was 
a  continual  sacrifice  for  God.  Always  on  the  stretch  for  Jesus, 
like  a  "flaming  seraph,"  "he  burnt  out  in  the  blaze  of  his  own 
fire." 


pt. 


Vv\ 


APPENDIX.     . 

WHITEFIELD'S    SERMONS. 

THE    KINGDOM    OF    GOD. 

For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink ;   but  righteousness,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." — Rom.  xiv.  17. 

"HOUGH  we  all  profess  to  own  one  Lord,  one 
faith,  one  baptism ;  though  Jesus  Christ  never 
was,  and  never  will  be,  divided  in  Himself: 
yet  the  followers  of  Jesus  Christ  have  in  all 
ages  been  sadly  divided  among  themselves ; 
and  what  has  rendered  the  case  the  more  to 
be  pitied,  is,  that  they  have  generally  been 
divided  about  the  circumstantials  of  religion, 
they  have  generally  received  one  another  to  doubtful  disputa- 
tion, and  embittered  one  another's  hearts,  by  talking  about 
those  things  which  they  might  either  do  or  not  do,  either 
know  or  not  know,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  be  the  true  fol- 
lowers of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus.  I  am  verily  persuaded 
that  this  is  the  great  artifice  and  engine  of  the  devil.  He 
knows  if  he  can  divide  Christians  he  will  get  the  better  of 
them  ;  and  therefore  he  endeavors  to  sow  the  tares  of  division 
among  them  in  order  to  make  them  a  common  prey  to  their 
enemies.  And,  indeed,  this  God  hath  permitted  in  all  ages  of 
the  Church.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  early  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity were  not  altogether  free  of  it.  No,  this  text  gives  us  a 
pregnant  and  sufficient  proof  of  it. 

(395) 


396  APPENDIX. 

It  seems  the  first  converts  of  Christianity  consisted  of  two 
sorts  of  people — either  those  who  were  Jews  before  they  be- 
came Christians,  or  those  who  were  heathens,  and  never  had 
been  subject  to  the  law  of  Moses,  but  were  converted  from  a 
state  of  Gentilism,  from  a  state  of  heathenish  darkness,  and 
brought  to  the  marvelous  Gospel  light.  The  first  of  these, 
knowing  that  every  rite,  every  ceremony  of  the  law  of  Moses, 
had  a  divine  superscription  wrought  upon  it,  they  thought 
themselves  obliged,  notwithstanding  they  believed  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  to  abstain  from  such  meats  and  drinks  as  were 
forbidden,  and  to  submit  to  such  festivals  as  were  enjoined  by 
the  law.  Whereas,  on  the  contrary,  the  heathen,  who  never 
were  brought  under  this  yoke,  nay,  even  the  Jews  themselves 
who  were  better  instructed  in  their  Christian  liberty,  knowing 
that  every  creature  of  God  was  now  good,  if  sanctified  by  the 
Word  of  God  and  prayer ;  knowing  that,  "  Touch  not,  taste 
not,  handle  not,"  were  no  longer  precepts  for  those  who  be- 
lieve in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  they  could  not  submit  to  them 
— they  could  not  submit  to  the  new  moons  and  Sabbaths — 
they  ate  what  was  set  before  them,  and  made  no  scruples  about 
meat  or  drink.  But,  however,  it  seems  there  were  two  con- 
tending parties — many  right  souls,  no  doubt  on  both  sides. 
What  must,  then,  the  great  Apostle  do  ?  Why,  like  a  true 
follower  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  he  preached  up  to  both 
sides  the  golden  rule  of  moderation,  and  endeavored  to  per- 
suade them  to  dispute  no  more  about  these  outward  things. 

This  is  a  short,  but  when  I  read  it,  I  think  it  is  one  of  the 
most  comprehensive  verses  in  the  whole  book  of  God.  And  I 
am  sure  if  ever  it  was  necessary  for  a  minister  to  preach  upon 
such  subjects  as  these,  it  must  be  in  the  days  wherein  we  live ; 
for,  my  friends,  the  devil  is  getting  advantage  over  us  by  our 
manifold  divisions.     We  have  been  settled  upon  our  lees,  we 


APPENDIX,  397 

have  had  no  outward  persecution;  and  now  God,  in  His  right- 
eous judgment,  has  suffered  us  to  divide  among  ourselves.  It 
is  high  time,  therefore,  for  ministers  to  stand  in  the  gap,  to 
preach  up  a  cathohc  spirit,  to  preach  out  bigotry,  to  preach 
out  prejudice ;  for  we  will  never  be  all  of  one  mind,  as  long  as 
we  are  in  the  world,  about  externals  in  religion ;  that  is  a  priv- 
ileofe  reserved  to  heaven,  to  a  future  state.  But  while  we  have 
different  degrees  of  light,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  we 
should  bear  with  all  who  can  not  in  all  things  follow  us.  I  am 
by  no  means  for  bringing  the  Church  into  a  state  of  anarchy 
and  confusion ;  but  that  we  should  bear  with  one  another ;  we 
should  not  divide  from  one  another,  so  as  not  to  keep  fellow- 
ship with  one  another,  because  we  are  not  of  the  same  mind  in 
some  particular  circumstance.  I  verily  believe  Jesus  Christ 
suffers  us  to  differ  to  teach  us  that  His  kingdom  is  of  a  spirit- 
ual nature — it  is  not  such  a  legal  dispensation  as  the  Jewish 
was  ;  and  therefore  we  should  not  divide  about  externals.  Be- 
sides, by  being  left  thus  to  differ  with  one  another  in  our  senti- 
ments about  externals,  we  learn  to  exercise  our  passive  graces. 
I  am  sure  there  is  one  good  effect  which  division  has  on  my 
own  and  many  other  people's  hearts — it  makes  us  long  for 
heaven,  where  we  shall  be  all  of  one  mind  and  one  heart.  It 
will  be  our  perfection  in  heaven  to  be  all  of  one  heart ;  and 
therefore  it  must  be  our  imperfection  on  earth  to  be  divided. 

There  are  two  things  which  those  who  call  themselves 
Christians  want  much  to  be  convinced  of,  namely.  First,  What 
religion  is  not ;  Second,  What  religion  positively  is.  Both 
these  are  in  the  words  of  the  text  plainly  taught,  and,  there- 
fore, as  God  shall  enable  me,  I  shall  endeavor.  First,  To  explain 
what  you  are  to  understand  by  "the  kingdom  of  God;"  Sec- 
ondly, I  shall  endeavor  to  show  that  "the  kingdom  of  God  is 
not  meat  and  drink ;"  and  Thirdly,  I  shall  show  you  what  "the 


398  APPENDIX. 

kingdom  of  God"   positively  is,  namely,  "righteousness,  and 
peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 

First,  I  am  to  explain  to  you  what  you  are  to  understand 
by  "the  kingdom  of  God."  By  the  kingdom  of  God,  in  some 
places  of  Scripture,  you  are  to  understand  no  more  than  the 
outward  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  as,  when  the  apostles  went 
out  and  preached  that  "the  kingdom  of  God  and  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  was  at  hand."  In  other  places  of  Scripture  you  are 
to  understand  it  as  implying  that  work  of  grace,  that  inward 
holiness,  which  is  wrought  in  the  heart  of  every  soul  that  is 
truly  converted  and  brought  home  to  God.  The  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  King  of  His  Church,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has 
got  a  kingdom ;  and  this  kingdom  is  erected  and  set  up  in  the 
hearts  of  sinners,  when  they  are  brought  to  be  subject  to  the 
government  of  our  dear  Redeemer's  laws.  In  this  sense, 
therefore,  we  are  to  understand  the  kingdom  of  God,  when 
Jesus  Christ  said,  "The  kingdom  of  God  is  within  you,"  in 
your  hearts  ;  and  when  He  tells  Nicodemus  that  "unless  a 
man  be  born  again  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God,"  he 
can  have  no  notion  of  the  inward  life  of  a  Christian.  In  other 
places  of  Scripture,  the  kingdom  of  God  not  only  signifies  the 
kingdom  of  grace,  but  the  kingdom  of  grace  and  of  glory 
also ;  as  when  Jesus  said,  "  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God ;"  that  is,  either  to  be  a  true  member  of 
His  mystical  Church  here,  or  a  partaker  of  the  glory  of  the 
Church  triumphant  hereafter.  We  are  to  take  the  kingdom 
of  God  in  the  text  as  signifying  that  inward  work  of  grace, 
that  kingdom  which  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  sets  up  in  the 
hearts  of  all  that  are  truly  brought  home  to  God ;  so  that 
•when  the  Apostle  tells  us,  "  The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat 
&nd  drink,"  it  is  the  same  as  though  he  had  said,  "My  dear 


APPENDIX.  399 

friends,  do  not  quarrel  about  outward  things ;  for  the  kingdom 
of  God,  or  true  and  undefiled  rehgion,  heart  and  soul  religion, 
is  not  meat  and  drink." 

Secondly,  By  meat  and  drink,  if  we  compare  the  text  with 
the  context,  we  are  to  understand  no  more  than  this,  that  the 
kingdom  of  God,  or  true  religion,  doth  not  consist  in  abstaining 
from  a  particular  meat  or  drink.  But  I  shall  take  the  words 
in  a  more  comprehensive  sense,  and  shall  endeavor  to  show 
you  on  this  head  that  the  kingdom  of  God,  or  true  and  unde- 
filed religion,  doth  not  consist  in  any,  no,  not  in  all  outward 
things,  put  them  altogether.     And, 

First,  The  kingdom  of  God,  or  true  and  undefiled  religion, 
doth  not  consist  in  being  of  this  or  that  particular  sect  or 
communion.  Perhaps,  my  dear  friends,  were  many  of  you 
asked  what  reason  you  can  give  for  the  hope  that  is  in  you, 
what  title  you  have  to  call  yourself  Christians — perhaps  you 
could  say  no  more  for  yourselves  than  this,  namely,  that  you 
belong  to  such  a  Church,  and  worship  God  in  the  same  way 
in  which  your  fathers  and  mothers  worshiped  God  before  you ; 
and  perhaps,  at  the  same  time  you  are  so  narrow  in  your 
thoughts  that  you  think  none  can  worship  God  but  those  that 
worship  God  just  in  your  way.  It  is  certainly,  my  dear  friends, 
a  blessing  to  be  born  as  you  are,  in  a  reformed  Church  ;  it  is 
certainly  a  blessing  to  have  the  outward  government  and  disci- 
pline of  the  Church  exercised ;  but  then,  if  you  place  religion 
merely  in  being  of  this  or  that  sect — if  you  contend  to  monop- 
olize or  confine  the  grace  of  God  to  your  particular  party — if 
you  rest  in  that,  you  place  the  kingdom  of  God  in  something 
in  which  it  doth  not  consist — you  had  as  good  place  it  in  meat 
and  drink.  There  are  certainly  Christians  among  all  sects  and 
communions  that  have  learned  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
I  do  not  mean  tliat  there  are  Christians  among  Arians,  Socin- 


400  APPENDIX. 

ians,  or  those  that  deny  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ — I  am 
sure  the  devil  is  priest  of  such  congregations  as  these — but  I 
mean  there  are  Christians  among  other  sects  that  may  differ 
from  us  in  the  outward  worship  of  God.  Therefore,  my  dear 
friends,  learn  to  be  more  catholic,  more  unconfined  in  your 
notions;  for  if  you  place  the  kingdom  of  God  merely  in  a  sect, 
you  place  it  in  that  in  which  it  doth  not  consist. 

Again:  as  the  kingdom  of  God  doth  not  consist  in 
being  of  this  or  that  sect,  so  neither  doth  it  consist  in  being 
baptized  when  you  were  young.  Baptism  is  certainly  an  ordi- 
nance of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — it  ought  certainly  to  be 
administered ;  but  then,  my  dear  friends,  take  care  that  you 
do  not  make  a  Christ  of  your  baptism,  for  there  have  been 
many  baptized  with  water,  as  you  were,  who  were  never 
savingly  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  Paul  had  a  great  value 
for  circumcision ;  but  when  he  saw  the  Jews  resting  upon 
their  circumcision,  he  told  them  circumcision  was  nothing, 
and  uncircumcision  was  nothing,  but  a  new  creature.  And 
yet  must  people  live  as  if  they  thought  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
entitle  them  to  heaven  to  tell  Jesus  Christ  that  their  name  was 
in  the  register-book  of  such  and  such  a  parish.  Your 
names  may  be  in  the  register-book,  and  yet  at  the  same  time 
not  be  in  the  book  of  life.  Ananias  and  Sapphira  were  bap- 
tized— Simon  Magus  was  baptized :  and,  therefore,  if  you  place 
religion  merely  in  being  baptized,  in  having  tlie  outward 
washing  of  water,  without  receiving  the  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  you  place  the  kingdom  of  God  in  something  which  it 
doth  not  consist — in  effect,  you  place  it  in  meat  and  drink. 

But  further :  as  the  kingdom  of  God  and  true  religion  doth 
not  consist  in  being  baptized,  neither  doth  it  consist  in  being 
orthodox  in  our  notions,  or  being  able  to  talk  fluently  of  the 
Gospel.     There  are  a  great  many  who  can  talk  of  free  grace, 


APPENDIX.  401 

of  free  justification,  of  final  perseverance,  and  God's  everlast- 
ing" love.  All  these  are  precious  truths — they  are  all  con- 
nected in  a  chain ;  take  away  one  link  and  you  spoil  the  whole 
chain  of  Gospel  truths.  But  then  I  am  persuaded  that  there 
are  many  who  talk  of  these  truths,  who  preach  up  these  truths, 
and  yet  at  the  same  time  never,  never  felt  the  power  of  these 
truths  upon  their  hearts.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  have  a  form  of 
sound  words;  and  I  think  you  have  got  a  form  of  sound  words 
in  your  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechism.  But  you  may  have 
orthodox  heads,  and  yet  you  may  have  the  devil  in  your 
hearts;  you  may  have  clear  heads,  you  may  be  able  to  speak, 
as  it  were,  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  angels,  the  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel,  but  yet,  at  the  same  time,  you  may  never  have 
felt  them  upon  your  own  souls.  And  if  you  have  never  felt 
the  power  of  them  upon  your  hearts,  your  talk  of  Christ  and 
free  justification,  and  having  rational  convictions  of  these 
truths,  will  but  increase  your  condemnation,  and  you  will  only 
go  to  hell  with  so  much  more  solemnity.  Take  care,  there- 
fore, of  resting  in  a  form  of  knowledge — it  is  dangerous  ;  if 
you  do,  you  place  the  kingdom  of  God  in  meat  and  drink. 

Again :  as  the  kingdom  of  God  doth  not  consist  in  ortho- 
dox notions,  much  less  doth  it  consist  in  being  sincere.  I 
know  not  what  sort  of  religion  we  have  got  among  us.  I  fear 
many  ministers  as  well  as  people  want  to  recommend  them- 
selves to  God  by  their  sincerity ;  they  think,  "  If  we  do  all  we 
can,  if  we  are  but  sincere,  Jesus  Christ  will  have  mercy  upon 
us."  But  pray  what  is  there  in  our  sincerity  to  recommend  us 
to  God?  There  is  no  natural  man  in  the  world  sincere,  till 
God  makce  us  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus;  and,  therefore, 
if  you  depend  upon  your  sincerity  for  your  salvation,  your  sin- 
cerity will  damn  you. 

Further :  as  the  kingdom  of  God  doth  not  consist  merely  in 
26 


402  APPENDIX. 

sincerity  (for  nothing  will  recommend  us  to  God,  but  the  right- 
eousness of  Jesus  Christ),  neither  doth  it  consist  in  being  neg- 
atively good,  and  yet  I  believe,  my  dear  friends,  if  many  of 
you  were  to  be  visited  by  a  minister  when  you  are   upon  a 
death-bed,  and   if  he  were  to  ask  you   how  you   hope  to  be 
saved,  why,  you  would  say,  "  Yes,  you  hoped  to  be  saved,  you 
never  did  man,  woman,  nor  child  any  harm  in  your  life;    you 
have  done  nobody  any  harm."     And,  indeed,  I  do  not  find  that 
the  unprofitable  servant  did  one  any  harm  ;    no,  the  poor  man, 
he  only  innocently  wrapped  up  his  talent  in  a  napkin,  and  when 
his  lord  came  to  call  him  to  account,  he  thought  he  should  be 
applauded  by  his   lord,  and  therefore  introduces   himself  with 
the  word  lo — "  Lo,  there  thou  hast  what  is  thine."     But  what 
says  Jesus   Christ  ?      "  Cast  ye  the   unprofitable  servant  into 
outer  darkness,  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 
Suppose  it  to  be  true  that  you  had  done  nobody  harm,  yet  it 
will  not  avail  you  to   salvation.     If  you  bring  forth  only  the 
fig-leaves  of  an  outward  profession,  and  bring  not  forth  good 
fruit,  it  will  not  send  you  to  heaven — it  will  send  you  to  hell. 
Again :    some    of    you,    perhaps,    may  think    I    have   not 
reached  you  yet,  therefore  I   go  further,  to  show  you  that  the 
kingdom  of  God   doth   not  consist   in  a  dry,  lifeless   morality. 
I  am  not  speaking  against  morality — it  is  a  blessed  thing  when 
Jesus  Christ  is  laid  as  the  foundation  of  it,  and  I  could  heartily 
wish  that  you  moral  gentlemen,  who  are  for  talking  so  much 
of  your  morality,  I  wish  we  could  see  a  little  more  of  it  than 
we  do.     I  do  not  cry  down  morality,  but  so  far  as   this,  that 
you  do  not  rest  in  your  morality,  that  you  do  not  think  you 
are  Christians  because  you  are  not  vicious — because  you  now 
and  then  do  some  good  action.     Why,  self-love  will  carry  a 
man  to  perform  all  moral  actions.     A  man,  perhaps,  will  not 
get  drunk  for  fear  of  making  his  head  ache;    a  man  may  be 


APPENDIX.  403 

honest  because  it  would  spoil  his  reputation  to  steal.  And  so 
a  man  who  has  not  the  love  of  God  in  his  heart  may  do  moral 
actions.  But  if  you  depend  on  morality,  if  you  make  a  Christ 
of  it,  and  go  about  it  to  establish  a  righteousness  of  your  own, 
and  think  your  morality  will  recommend  you  to  God,  my  dear 
friends,  you  are  building  upon  a  rotten  foundation,  you  will 
find  yourselves  mistaken,  and  that  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not 
in  your  hearts. 

Again :  as  the  kingdom  of  God  doth  not  consist  in  doing 
nobody  hurt,  nor  in  doing  moral  actions,  neither  doth  it  consist 
in  attending  upon  all  outward  ordinances  whatsoever.  A  great 
many  of  you  may  think  that  you  go  to  church,  and  receive 
the  sacrament  once  or  twice  a  year  (though  I  do  think  that  is 
too  seldom,  by  a  great  deal,  to  have  it  administered),  you  may 
read  your  Bibles,  you  may  have  family  worship,  you  may  say 
your  prayers  in  your  closets,  and  yet  at  the  same  time,  my 
dear  friends,  you  know  nothing  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
your  hearts.  You  may  have  a  token,  and  receive  the  sacra- 
ment, and  perhaps  at  the  same  time  be  eating  and  drinking 
your  own  damnation.  I  speak  this  because  it  is  a  most  fatal 
snare  that  poor  professors  are  exposed  to — we  stop  our  con- 
sciences by  our  duties.  Many  of  you,  perhaps,  lead  a  luke- 
warm,' loose  life — you  are  Gallio-like ;  yet  you  will  be  very 
good  the  sacrament-week ;  you  will  attend  all  the  sermons,  and 
come  to  the  sacrament;  you  will  be  very  good  for  some  time 
after  that,  and  then  afterward  go  on  in  your  former  way  till  the 
next  sacrament.  You  are  resting  on  the  means  of  grace  all 
the  while,  and  placing  religion  in  that  which  is  only  a  mean  of 
religion.  I  speak  from  mine  own  experience.  I  know  how 
much  I  was  deceived  with  a  form  of  godliness.  I  made  con- 
science of  fasting  twice  a  week,  I  made. conscience  of  praying 
sometimes  nine  times  a  day,  and  received  the  sacrament  every 


404  APPENDIX. 

Saljbath-day,  and  yet  knew  nothing  of  inward  religion  in  my 
heart,  till  God  was  pleased  to  dart  a  ray  of  light  into  my  soul, 
and  show  me  I  must  be  a  new  creature,  or  be  damned  for  ever- 
more. Being,  therefore,  so  long  deceived  myself,  I  speak  with 
more  sympathy  to  you  who  are  resting  on  a  round  of  duties 
and  model  of  performances.  And  now,  my  friends,  if  your 
hearts  were  to  be  searched,  and  you  were  to  speak  your  minds, 
I  appeal  to  your  own  hearts  whether  you  are  not  thinking 
within  yourselves,  though  you  may  have  so  much  charity  as 
to  think  I  mean  well,  yet  I  verily  believe  many  of  you  think  I 
have  carried  matters  a  little  too  far ;  and  why  is  this,  but  be- 
cause I  come  close  to  some  of  your  cases  ?  The  pride  of  your 
hearts  does  not  care  to  admit  of  conviction,  therefore  you 
would  fain  retort  on  the  preacher,  and  say  he  is  wrong,  whereas 
it  is  your  hearts  that  are  wrong  all  the  while. 

Others,  again,  perhaps  may  be  saying,  "  Well,  if  a  man 
may  go  thus  far  and  not  be  a  Christian,  as  I  am  sure  he  may, 
and  a  great  deal  further,  you  will  be  apt  to  cry  out,  '  Who, 
then,  can  be  saved?'"  And  O  that  I  could  hear  you  asking 
this  question  in  earnest !  for,  my  friends,  I  am  obliged,  wher- 
ever I  go,  to  endeavor  to  plow  up  people's  fallow  ground,  to 
bring  them  off  from  their  duties,  and  making  a  Christ  of  them. 
There  are  so  many  shadows  in  religion,  that  if  you  do  not  take 
care  you  will  grasp  at  the  shadow,  and  lose  the  substance. 
The  Devil  has  so  ordered  the  affairs  of  the  Church  now,  and 
our  hearts  are  so  desperately  deceitful,  that  if  we  do  not  take  a 
deal  of  care  we  shall  come  short  of  true  religion^ — of  the  true 
kingdom  of  God  in  the  soul.  The  great  question  then  is, 
"  Whether  any  of  you  are  convinced  of  what  has  been  said  ?" 
Does  power  come  with  the  word?  When  I  was  reading  a 
book  entitled  "The  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man,"*  and 

*  This  must  have  been  Scougal's  well-known  work. 


APPENDIX.  405 

reading  that  a  man  may  read,  pray,  and  go  to  Church,  and  be 
constant  in  the  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  and  yet  not  be  a  Chris- 
tian, I  wondered  what  the  man  would  be  at;  I  was  ready  to 
throw  it  from  mc,  till  at  last  he  told  me  that  religion  was  an 
union  of  the  soul  with  God — the  image  of  God  wrought  upon 
the  heart,  or  Christ  Jesus  formed  in  us.  Then  God  was  pleased 
with  these  words  to  cast  a  ray  of  light  into  my  soul  ;  with  the 
light  there  came  a  power,  and  from  that  very  moment  I  knew 
I  must  be  a  new  creature.  This,  perhaps,  may  be  your  case, 
my  dear  hearers.  Perchance  many  of  you  may  be  loving, 
good-natured  people,  and  attend  the  duties  of  religion,  but 
take  care,  for  Christ's  sake,  that  you  do  not  rest  on  these 
things. 

I  think  I  cannot  sum  up  what  has  been  said  better  than  to 
give  you  the  character  of  the  Apostle  Paul.  Are  you  a  Chris- 
tian, do  you  think,  because  you  are  of  this  or  that  sect  ? — Paul 
was  a  Jew  and  a  Pharisee.  Are  you  a  Christian  because  you 
are  baptized,  and  enjoy  Christian  privileges  ? — Then  Paul  was 
circumcised.  Are  you  a  Christian  because  you  do  nobody 
hurt,  and  are  sincere  ? — Paul  was  blameless  before  his  conver- 
sion, and  was  not  a  Gallio  in  religion,  as  many  of  us  are ;  he 
was  so  zealous  for  God,  that  he  persecuted  the  Church  of 
Christ.  But  yet  when  God  was  pleased  to  reveal  His  Son  in 
him,  when  God  was  pleased  to  strike  him  to  the  ground,  and 
let  him  see  what  heart-religion  was,  then  Paul  dropped  his 
false  confidence  immediately ;  those  things  which  we  counted 
gain,  which  he  depended  on  before,  he  now  counted  loss,  that 
he  might  win  Christ,  and  be  found  in  Him  ;  not  having  his 
own  righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  righteousness 
which  is  by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  time,  my  dear  friends, 
to  proceed  to 

Thirdly,  The  next  thing  proposed,  namely.  To  show  you 


406  APPENDIX. 

what  the  kingdom  of  God,  or  true  religion,  positively  is.  I 
have  told  you  what  it  is  not ;  I  shall  now  proceed  to  show  you 
tvhat  it  is.  It  is  "righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost."  But  before  I  proceed  to  this,  I  must  make  a 
little  digression.  Perhaps  curiosity  has  brought  many  here 
who  have  neither  regard  to  God  nor  man.  A  man  may  be 
a  member  of  the  purest  church,  a  man  may  be  baptized,  do 
nobody  harm,  do  a  great  deal  of  good,  attend  on  all  the  ordi- 
nances of  Christianity,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  may  be  a  child 
of  the  devil.  If  a  man  may  go  thus  far,  and  yet  at  the  same 
time  miss  salvation,  what  will  become  of  you  who  do  not  keep 
up  a  form  of  religion,  who  scarcely  know  the  time  when  you 
have  been  at  church  and  attending  sermons,  unless  curiosity 
brought  you  to  hear  a  particular  stranger  ?  What  will  become 
of  you  who,  instead  of  believing  the  Gospel  and  reading  the 
Bible,  set  up  your  corrupt  religion  in  opposition  to  divine  rev- 
elation ?  What  will  become  of  you,  who  count  it  your  pleas- 
ure to  riot  in  the  day  time,  to  spend  time  in  rioting  and  wanton- 
ness; who  are  sitting  in  the  scorner's  chair,  and  joining  with 
your  hellish  companions,  who  love  to  dress  the  children  of 
God  in  bear  skins  ?  What  will  become  of  you  who  live  in 
acts  of  uncleanness,  drunkenness,  adultery  and  Sabbath-break- 
ing ?  Surely,  without  repentance,  you  will  be  lost — your 
damnation  slumbereth  not.  God  may  bear  with  you  long,  but 
He  will  not  forbear  always.  The  time  will  come  when  He 
will  ease  Himself  of  His  adversaries,  and  then  you  will  be 
undone  for  evermore,  unless  you  come  to  Him  as  poor,  lost 
sinners. 

But  I  now  go  on  to  show  you  what  true  religion  positively 
is;  "it  is  righteousness,"  it  is  "peace,"  it  is  "joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."     And 

First,  The  kingdom  of  God  is  "righteousness."     By  right- 


APPENDIX.  407 

eousness  we  are  here  to  understand  the  complete,  perfect,  and 
all-sufficient  righteousness  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  includ- 
ing both  His  active  and  His  passive  obedience.  My  dear 
friends,  we  have  no  righteousness  of  our  own  ;  our  best  right- 
eousness, take  them  altogether,  are  but  so  many  filthy  rags ; 
we  can  only  be  accepted  for  the  sake  of  the  righteousness  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  righteousness  must  be  imputed 
and  made  over  to  us,  and  applied  to  our  hearts ;  and  till  we 
get  this  righteousness  brought  home  to  our  souls,  we  are  in 
a  state  of  death  and  damnation — the  wrath  of  God  abideth 
on  us. 

Before  I  go  further,  I  would  endeavor  to  apply  this.  Give 
me  leave  to  put  this  question  to  your  hearts.  You  call  your- 
selves Christians,  and  would  count  me  uncharitable  to  call  it 
in  question ;  but  I  exhort  you  to  let  conscience  speak  out,  do 
not  bribe  it  any  longer.  Did  you  ever  see  yourselves  as 
damned  sinners  ?  Did  conviction  ever  fasten  upon  your 
hearts  ?  And  after  you  had  been  made  to  see  your  want  of 
Christ,  and  made  to  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  did 
you  lay  hold  on  Christ  by  faith  ?  Did  you  ever  close  with 
Christ  ?  Was  Christ's  righteousness  ever  put  upon  your 
naked  souls?  Was  ever  a  feeling  application  of  His  right- 
eousness made  to  your  hearts  ?  Was  it,  or  was  it  not  ?  If 
not,  you  are  in  a  damnable  state — you  are  out  of  Christ ;  for 
the  Apostle  says  here,  "The  kingdom  of  God  is  righteousness;" 
that  is,  righteousness  of  Christ  applied  and  brought  home  to 
the  heart. 

It  follows,  "peace."  "The  kingdom  of  God  is  righteous- 
ness and  peace."  By  peace  I  do  not  understand  that  false 
peace,  or  rather  carnal  security,  into  which  so  many  are  fallen. 
There  arc  thousands  who  speak  peace  to  themselves  when 
there  is  no  peace.     Thousands  have  got  a  peace  of  the  devil's 


408  APPENDIX. 

making ;  the  strong  man  armed  has  got  possession  of  their 
hearts,  and  therefore  their  go6ds  are  all  in  peace.  But  the 
peace  here  spoken  of  is  a  peace  that  follows  after  a  great  deal 
of  soul  trouble;  it  is  like  that  calm  which  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  spoke  to  the  wind  :  "  Peace  be  still ;  and  immediately 
there  was  a  great  calm ;"  it  is  like  that  peace  which  Christ 
spoke  to  His  disciples,  when  He  came  and  said,  "Peace  be 
unto  you" — "My  peace  I  leave  with  you."  It  is  a  peace  of 
God's  making,  it  is  a  peace  of  God's  giving,  it  is  a  peace  that 
the  world  can  not  give,  it  is  a  peace  that  can  be  felt,  it  is  a 
peace  that  passeth  human  understanding — it  is  a  peace  that 
results  from  a  sense  of  having  Christ's  righteousness  brought 
home  to  the  soul.  For  a  poor  soul  before  this  is  full  of  trouble  ; 
Christ  makes  application  of  His  righteousness  to  his  heart; 
and  then  the  poor  creature,  being  justified  by  faith,  hath  peace 
with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  My  dear  friends,  I 
am  now  talking  of  heart-religion,  of  an  inward  work  of  God, 
an  inward  kingdom  in  your  hearts,  which  you  must  have,  or 
you  shall  never  sit  with  Jesus  Christ  in  His  kingdom.  The 
most  of  you  may  have  peace,  but  for  Christ's  sake  examine 
upon  what  this  peace  is  founded— see  if  Christ  be  brought 
home  to  your  souls,  if  you  have  had  a  feeling  application  of 
the  merits  of  Christ  brought  home  to  your  souls.  Is  God  at 
peace  with  you  ?  Did  Jesus  Ghrist  ever  say,  "  Peace  be  to 
you" — "Be  of  good  cheer" — "Go  thy  way,  thy  sins  are  for- 
given thee" — "  My  peace  I  leave  with  you.  My  peace  I  give 
unto  you  ?"  Did  God  ever  bring  a  comfortable  promise  with 
power  to  your  soul  ?  And  after  you  have  been  praying,  and 
fearing  that  you  would  be  damned,  did  you  ever  feel  peace 
flow  in  like  a  river  upon  your  soul  ?  so  that  you  could  say, 
Now  I  know  that  God  is  my  friend,  now  I  know  that  Jesus  is 
my  Saviour,  now  I  can  call   Him  "  My  Lord,  and  my  God  ;" 


APPENDIX.  409 

now  I  know  that  Christ  hath  not  only  died  for  others,  but  I 
know  that  Jesus  hath  died  for  me  in  particular.  O  my  dear 
friends,  it  is  impossible  to  tell  you  the  comfort  of  this  peace, 
and  I  am  astonished  (only  man's  heart  is  desperately  wicked) 
how  you  can  have  peace  one  moment  and  yet  not  know  that 
God  is  at  peace  with  you.  How  can  you  go  to  bed  this  night 
without  this  peace  ?  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  know  when  sin  is 
forgiven ;  would  you  not  be  glad  if  an  angel  were  to  come  and 
tell  you  so  this  night  ? 

But  there  is  something  more — there  is  "joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."  I  have  often  thought  that  if  the  Apostle  Paul  were 
to  come  and  preach  now,  he  would  be  reckoned  one  of  the 
greatest  enthusiasts  on  earth.  He  talked  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
of  feeling  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  so  we  must  all  feel  it,  all  ex- 
perience it,  all  receive  it,  or  we  can  never  see  a  holy  God  with 
comfort.  We  are  not  to  receive  the  Holy  Ghost  so  as  to  en- 
able us  to  work  miracles ;  for,  "  Many  will  say  in  that  day.  We 
have  cast  out  devils  in  Thy  name,  and  in  Thy  name  done  many 
wonderful  works."  But  we  must  receive  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
sanctify  our  nature,  to  purify  our  hearts,  and  make  us  meet  for 
heaven.  Unless  we  are  born  again,  and  have  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  our  hearts,  if  we  were  in  heaven  we  could  take  no  pleasure 
there.  The  Apostle  not  only  supposes  we  must  have  the  Holy 
Ghost,  but  he  supposes,  as  a  necessary  ingredient  to  make  up 
the  kingdom  of  God  in  a  believer's  heart,  that  he  must  have 
"joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."  There  are  a  great  many,  I  believe, 
who  think  religion  is  a  poor  melancholy  thing,  and  they  are 
afraid  to  be  Christians.  But,  my  dear  friends,  there  is  no  true 
joy  till  you  can  joy  in  God  and  Christ.  I  know  wicked  men' 
and  men  of  pleasure  will  have  a  little  laughter ;  but  what  is  it, 
but  like  the  crackling  of  a  few  thorns  under  a  pot  ?  it  makes  a 
blaze,  and  soon  goes  out.     I  know  what  it  is  to  take  pleasure 


410  APPENDIX. 

in  sin ;  but  I  always  found  the  smart  that  followed  was  ten 
thousand  times  more  hurtful  than  any  gratification  I  could 
receive.  But  they  who  joy  in  God  have  a  joy  that  strangers 
intermeddle  not  with — it  is  a  joy  that  no  man  can  take  from 
them  ;  it  amounts  to  a  full  assurance  of  faith  that  the  soul  is 
reconciled  to  God  through  Christ,  that  Jesus  dwells  in  the 
heart ;  and  when  the  soul  reflects  on  itself,  it  magnifies  the 
Lord,  and  rejoices  in  God  its  Saviour.  Thus  we  are  told  that 
"Zaccheus  received  Christ  joyfully,"  that  "the  eunuch  went  on 
his  way  rejoicing,"  and  that  "  the  jailer  rejoiced  in  God  with 
all  his  house."  O,  my  friends,  what  joy  have  they  that  know 
their  sins  are  forgiven  them  !  What  a  blessed  thing  is  it  for  a 
man  to  look  forward  and  see  an  endless  eternity  of  happiness 
before  him,  knowing  that  every  thing  shall  work  together  for 
his  good ! — it  is  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  O  may 
God  make  you  all  partakers  of  it !" 

Here,  then,  we  will  put  the  kingdom  of  God  together.  It 
is  "righteousness,"  it  is  "peace,"  it  is  "joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 
When  this  is  placed  in  the  heart,  God  there  reigns,  God  there 
dwells  and  walks — the  creature  is  a  son  or  daughter  of  the 
Almighty.  But,  my  friends,  how  few  are  there  here  who  have 
been  made  partakers  of  this  kingdom  !  Perhaps  the  kingdom 
of  the  devil,  instead  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  is  in  your  hearts. 
This  has  been  a  place  much  favored  of  God  ;  may  I  hope  some 
of  you  can  go  along  with  me  and  say  "Blessed  be  God  we 
have  got  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  ?" 
Have  you  so  ?  Then  you  are  kings,  though  beggars ;  you 
are  happy  above  all  men  in  the  world — you  have  got  heaven 
in  your  hearts ;  and  when  the  crust  of  your  bodies  drops, 
your  souls  will  meet  with  God,  your  souls  will  enter  into  the 
world  of  peace,  and  you  shall  be  happy  with  God  for  ever- 
more.    I  hope  there  is  none  of  you  who  will  fear  death ;    fie 


APPENDIX.  411 

for  shame,  if  ye  do  !  What !  afraid  to  go  to  Jesus,  to  your 
Lord  ?  You  may  cry  out,  "  O,  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O, 
grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?"  You  may  go  on  your  way  re- 
joicing, knowing  that  God  is  your  friend ;  die  when  you  will, 
angels  will  carry  you  safe  to  heaven. 

i  But,  O,  how  many  are  here  in  this  church-yard,  who  will 
be  laid  in  some  grave  ere  long,  who  are  entire  strangers  to  this 
work  of  God  upon  their  souls  !  My  dear  friends,  I  think  this 
is  an  awful  sight.  Here  are  many  thousands  of  souls,  that  must 
shortly  appear  with  me,  a  poor  creature,  in  the  general  assem- 
bly of  all  mankind  before  God  in  judgment.  God  Almighty 
knows  whether  some  of  you  may  not  droj)  down  dead  before 
you  go  out  of  the  church-yard  ;  and  yet,  perhaps  most  are 
strangers  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  their  hearts.  Perhaps 
curiosity  has  brought  you  out  to  hear  a  poor  babbler  preach. 
But,  my  friends,  I  hope  I  came  out  of  a  better  principle.  If  I 
know  any  thing  of  my  heart,  I  came  to  promote  God's  glory; 
and  if  the  Lord  should  make  use  of  such  a  worthless  worm, 
such  a  wretched  creature  as  I  am,  to  do  your  precious  souls 
good,  nothing  would  rejoice  me  more  than  to  hear  that  God 
makes  the  foolishness  of  preaching  a  means  of  making  many 
believe.  I  was  long  myself  deceived  with  a  form  of  godliness, 
and  I  know  what  it  is  to  be  a  factor  for  the  devil,  to  be  led  cap- 
tive by  the  devil  at  his  will,  to  have  the  kingdom  of  the  devil 
in  my  heart;  and  I  hope  I  can  say,  through  free  grace,  I  know 
what  it  is  to  have  the  kingdom  of  God  erected  in  me.  It  is 
God's  goodness  that  such  a  poor  wretch  as  I  am  converted ; 
tliough  sometimes  when  I  am  speaking  of  God's  goodness  I 
am  afraid  He  will  strike  me  down  dead.  Let  me  draw  out 
my  soul  and  heart  to  you,  my  dear  friends,  my  dear  guilty 
friends,  poor  bleeding  souls,  who  must  shortly  take  your  last 
farewell,  and  fly  into  endless  eternity.     Let  me  entreat  you  to 


412  APPENDIX. 

lay  these  things  seriously  to  heart  this  night.  Now,  when  the 
Sabbath  is  over,  and  the  evening  is  drawing  near,  methinks  the 
very  sight  is  awful  (I  could  almost  weep  over  you,  as  our  Lord 
did  over  Jerusalem),  to  think  in  how  short  a  time  every  soul  of 
you  must  die — some  of  you  to  go  to  heaven,  and  others  to  go 
to  the  devil  for  evermore. 

O,  my  dear  friends,  these  are  matters  of  eternal  moment.  I 
did  not  come  to  tickle  your  ears  ;  if  I  had  a  mind  to  do  so,  I 
would  play  the  orator;  no,  but  I  came,  if  God  should  be 
pleased,  to  touch  your  hearts.  What  shall  I  say  to  you  ? 
Open  the  door  of  your  heart,  that  the  King  of  glory,  the 
blessed  Jesus,  may  come  in  and  erect  His  kingdom  in  your 
soul.  Make  room  for  Christ ;  the  Lord  Jesus  desires  to  sup 
with  you  to-night ;  Christ  is  willing  to  come  into  any  of  your 
hearts,  that  will  be  pleased  to  open  and  receive  Him.  Are 
there  any  of  you  made  willing  Lydias  ?  There  are  many 
women  here,  but  how  many  Lydias  are  there  here  ?  Does 
power  go  with  the  word  to  open  your  heart  ?  and  find  you  a 
sweet  melting  in  your  soul  ?  Are  you  willing  ?  Then  Christ 
Jesus  is  willing  to  come  to  you.  But  you  may  say.  Will 
Christ  come  to  my  wicked,  polluted  heart  ?  Yes,  though  you 
have  many  devils  in  your  heart,  Christ  will  come  and  erect 
His  throne  there ;  though  the  devils  be  in  your  heart,  the 
Lord  Jesus  will  scourge  out  a  legion  of  devils,  and  His  throne 
shall  be  exalted  in  thy  soul.  Sinners,  be  ye  what  you  will, 
come  to  Christ,  you  shall  have  righteousness  and  peace.  If 
you  have  no  peace,  come  to  Christ,  and  He  will  give  you 
peace.  When  you  come  to  Christ,  you  will  feel  such  joy  that 
it  is  impossible  for  you  to  tell.  O,  may  God  pity  you  all.  I 
hope  this  will  be  a  night  of  salvation  to  some  of  your  souls. 

My  dear  friends,  I  would  preach  with  all  my  heart  till  mid- 
night, to  do  you  good,  till  I  could  preach  no  more.     Oh,  that 


APPENDIX.  413 

this  body  might  hold  out  to  speak  more  for  my  dear  Redeemer ! 
Had  I  a  thousand  lives,  had  I  a  thousand  tongues,  they  should 
be  employed  in  inviting  sinners  to  come  to  Jesus  Christ! 
Come,  then,  let  me  prevail  with  some  of  you  to  come  along 
with  me.  Come,  poor,  lost,  undone  sinner,  come  just  as  you 
are  to  Christ,  and  say.  If  I  be  damned,  I  will  perish  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus  Christ,  where  never  one  perished  yet.  He  will  receive 
you  with  open  arms ;  the  dear  Redeemer  is  willing  to  receive 
you  all.  Fly,  then,  for  your  lives.  The  devil  is  in  you  while 
unconverted ;  and  will  you  go  with  the  devil  in  your  heart  to 
bed  this  night  ?  God  Almighty  knows  if  ever  you  and  I  shall 
see  one  another  again.  In  one  or  two  days  more  I  must  go, 
and,  perhaps,  I  may  never  see  you  again  till  I  meet  you  at  the 
judgment-day.  O,  my  dear  friends,  think  of  that  solemn  meet- 
ing; think  of  that  important  hour,  when  the  heavens  shall  pass 
away  with  a  great  noise,  when  the  elements  shall  melt  with 
fervent  heat,  when  the  sea  and  the  grave  shall  be  giving  up 
their  dead,  and  ill  shall  be  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
great  God.  Wli  it  will  you  do  then,  if  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
not  erected  in  your  hearts  ?  You  must  go  to  the  devil — like 
must  go  to  like — if  you  are  not  converted  Christ  hath  asserted 
it  in  the  strongest  manner :  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
Except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  God."  Who  can  dwell  with  devouring  fire  ?  Who  can 
dwell  with  everlasting  burnings  ?  O,  my  heart  is  melting  with 
love  to  you.  Surely  God  intends  to  do  good  to  your  poor 
souls.  Will  no  one  be  persuaded  to  accept  of  Christ  ?  If 
those  who  are  settled  Pharisees  will  not  come,  I  desire  to 
speak  to  you  who  are  drunkards,  Sabbath-breakers,  cursers 
and  swearers — will  you  come  to  Christ  ?  I  know  that  many 
of  you  come  here  out  of  curiosity ;  though  you  come  only 
to   see  the  congregation,  yet  if  you    come   to   Jesus    Christ, 


414  APPENDIX. 

Christ  will  accept  of  you.  Are  there  any  cursing,  swearing 
soldiers  here  ?  Will  you  come  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  list  your- 
selves under  the  banner  of  the  dear  Redeemer  ?  You  are  all 
welcome  to  Christ.  Are  there  any  little  boys  or  little  girls 
here  ?  Come  to  Christ,  and  He  will  erect  His  kingdom  in 
you.  There  are  many  little  children  whom  God  is  working 
on,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  O,  if  some  of  the  little  lambs 
would  come  to  Christ,  they  shall  have  peace  and  joy  in  the 
day  that  the  Redeemer  shall  set  up  His  kingdom  in  their 
hearts.  Parents  tell  them  that  Jesus  Christ  will  take  them  in 
His  arms,  that  He  will  dandle  them  on  His  knees.  All  of 
you,  old  and  young,  you  that  are  old  and  gray-headed,  come 
to  Jesus  Christ,  and  you  shall  be  kings  and  priests  to  your 
God.  The  Lord  will  abundantly  pardon  you  at  the  eleventh 
hour.  "  Ho,  every  one  of  you  that  thirsteth."  If  there  be 
'any  of  you  ambitious  of  honor,  do  you  want  a  crown,  a  scep- 
ter ?  Come  to  Christ,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will  give  you 
a  kingdom  that  no  man  shall  take  from  you. 


GOD,    A    BELIEVER'S    GLORY. 


"And  thy  God  thy  Glory." — Isaiah  Ix,  19. 

LiVTELY  had  occasion  to  speak  on  the  verse 
iinniediately  followhig  that  of  our  text ;  but 
when  I  am  reading  God's  word,  I  often  find  it  is 
like  being  in  a  tempted  garden;  when  we  pluck  a 
little  fruit,  and  find  it  good,  we  are  apt  to  look 
after  and  pluck  a  little  more,  only  with  this  dif- 
'f  ference — the  fruit  we  gather  below  often  hurts  the 
body  at  the  same  time  that  it  pleases  the  appetite; 
but  when  we  walk  in  God's  garden — when  we  gather  fruit  of 
the  Redeemer's  plants,  the  more  we  eat  the  more  we  are  de- 
lighted, and  the  freer  we  are,  the  more  welcome :  if  any  chap- 
ter in  the  Bible  deserves  this  character  and  description  of  an 
evangelical  Eden,  this  does. 

It  is  very  remarkable,  and  I  have  often  told  you  of  it,  that 
all  the  apostles  preach  first  the  law,  and  then  the  gospel,  which 
finds  man  in  a  state  of  death,  points  out  to  him  how  he  is  to 
get  life,  and  then  sweetly  conducts  him  to  it.  Great  and  glori- 
ous things  are  spoken  of  the  church  of  God  in  this  chapter ; 
and  it  struck  me  very  much  this  evening,  ever  since  I  came 
into  the  pulpit,  that  the  great  God  speaks  of  the  church  in  a 
singular  number.  How  can  that  be,  when  the  church  is  com- 
posed of  so  many  millions,  gathered  out  of  all  nations,  lan- 
guages, and  tongues  ?  How  is  it  that  God  says,  thy  Maker, 
and  not  your  Maker ;  that  He  speaks  of  the  church  as  though 
it  consisted  of  only  one  individual  person  ?     The  reason  of  it 

(4'5) 


4l6  APPENDIX. 

is  this,  and  is  very  obvious,  that  though  the  church  is  com- 
posed of  many  members,  they  have  but  one  head,  and  they 
are  united  by  the  bond  of  one  spirit,  by  whom  they  have 
the  same  vital  union  of  the  soul  with  God;  and  therefore  it 
teaches  Christians  not  to  say  of  one  another,  I  am  of  Paul, 
I  am  of  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  but  to  behave  and  live  so,  that  the 
world  may  know  that  we  all  belong  to  one  common  Clirist. 
God  revive,  continue,  and  increase  this  true  Christian  love 
among  us  !  Of  this  church,  thus  collectively  considered, 
united  under  one  head,  the  blessed  evangelical  prophet  thus 
speaks  :  "Violence  shall  no  more  be  heard  in  thy  land,  wast- 
ing nor  destruction  within  thy  borders,  but  thou  shalt  call  thy 
walls  salvation,  and  thy  gates,  (where  the  magistrates  assemble, 
and  the  people  go  in  and  out,)  praise."  From  this  text  a  great 
many  good  and  great  men  have  gathered  what  they  call  the 
millennium,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  to  come  and  reign  a  thousand 
years  on  earth ;  but  I  must  acknowledge  that  I  have  always 
rejected  a  great  many  good  men's  positive  opinion  about  the 
season  when  this  state  commences,  and  1  would  warn  you  all 
against  fixing  any  time;  for  what  signifies  whether  Christ 
comes  to  reign  a  thousand  years,  or  when  He  comes,  since  you 
and  I  are  to  die  very  soon ;  and  therefore  instead  of  puzzling 
our  heads  about  it,  God  grant  we  may  so  live  that  we  may 
reign  with  Him  for  ever ;  and  it  seems  to  me,  that  whatsoever 
is  said  of  this  state  on  earth,  that  the  millenium  is  to  be  under- 
stood in  a  spiritual  sense,  as  an  emblem  of  a  glorious,  eternal, 
beatific  state  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  "The  sun  shall  no 
more  be  thy  light  by  day,  nor  for  brightness  shall  the  moon 
give  light  unto  thee,  but  the  Lord  shall  be  unto  thee  an  ever- 
lasting light ;"  and  in  order  to  prepare  us  for  that  light,  and 
show  us  the  nature  of  it,  while  we  speak  of  it  may  it  come 
with  light  and  power  to  our  souls,     He  adds  in  our  text,  and 


APPENDIX.  417 

thy  God  shall  be  thy  glory.  This  is  spoken  to  all  believers  in 
general,  but  it  is  spoken  to  all  fearful  believers  in  particular ; 
and  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  possibly  close  my  poor  feeble 
ministrations  among  you  here,  better  than  with  these  words  ; 
though,  God  willing,  I  intend,  if  He  shall  strengthen  me  this 
week,  to  give  you  a  parting  word  next  Wednesday  morning  ; 
and  O,  that  what  has  been  my  comfort  this  day  in  the  medita- 
tion on  this  passage,  may  be  yours  and  mine  to  all  eternity ! 
He  that  hath  an  ear  to  hear,  let  him  hear  what  the  evangelic 
prophet  saith,  TJiy  God  thy  glory. 

The  Holy  Ghost  seems,  as  it  were,  particularly  fond  of  this 
expression :  when  God  published  the  ten  commandments  upon 
Mount  Sinai,  he  prefaced  it  thus,  I  am  the  Lord,  and  not  con- 
tent with  that,  he  adds,  ////  God :  and  the  frequency  of  it,  I 
suppose,  made  Luther  say,  that  the  gospel  deals  riiuch  in  pro- 
nouns, in  which  consists  a  believer  s  comfort ;  but  if  there  were 
no  other  argument  than  this,  it  would  cut  up  that  destructive 
principle  by  the  very  root,  which  pretends  to  tell  us  that  there 
is  no  such  thing  as  appropriation  in  the  Bible ;  that  our  faith 
is  only  to  be  a  rational  assent  to  the  Word  of  God,  without  a 
particular  application  of  that  Word  made  to  our  souls  :  this  is 
as  contrary  to  the  gospel,  and  to  the  experience  of  every  real 
saint,  as  light  is  contrary  to  darkness,  and  heaven  to  hell. 
My  brethren,  I  appeal  to  any  of  you,  what  good  would  it  do 
you,  if  you  had  ten  thousand  notes  wrote  in  large  characters 
by  the  finest  hand  that  can  write  in  London  ;  suppose  you 
have  them,  as  many  men  havt ,  and  as  it  is  a  very  convenient 
way;  that  they  were  put  into  your  pockets,  made  on  the  iriside 
of  your  coat ;  suppose  you  should  say,  my  coat  is  buttoned,  I 
have  all  these  here  next  my  heart :  when  I  come  to  look  at 
them,  I  find  there  is  not  one  note  payable  to  me ;  they  are  all 
forged,  or  payable  to  somebody  else,  and  therefore  are  good 

21 


41 8  APPENDIX. 

for  iiotliing  to  me.  All  the  promises  of  the  gospel,  all  that 
is  said  of  God  and  Christ,  is  ours.  The  great  question  there- 
fore is,  whether  the  God  we  profess  to  believe  in  is  our  God 
not  only  whether  He  is  so  in  general — that  the  devils  may  say ; 
but  whether  He  is  our  God  in  particular.  The  devils  can  say, 
O  God  ;  but  the  devils  cannot  say,  my  God :  that  is  a  privilege 
peculiar  to  God's  chosen  people,  who  really  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ :  and  therefore,  my  brethren,  a  deist  cannot 
say  my  God,  my  Christ,  because  he  does  not  believe  on  that 
medium  by  which  God  becomes  our  God.  That  was  a  noble 
saying  of  Luther,  /  zvill  have  nothhig  to  do  zvith  an  absolute 
God ;  that  is,  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  a  God  out  of 
Christ.  Now  this  is  a  deist's  glory.  Lord  Bolingbroke  values 
himself  upon  it;  I  am  astonished  at  that  man's  infidelity  and 
cowardice.  I  do  not  like  those  men  that  leave  their  writings 
to  be  published  after  their  death :  I  love  to  see  men  bold  in 
their  writings :  I  like  an  honest  man  that  will  put  out  his 
writings  while  alive,  that  he  may  see  what  men  can  sav'  against 
him,  and  then  answer  them  ;  but  it  is  mere  cowardice  to  leave 
it  to  the  world  to  answer  for  it,  to  set  us  a  caviling  after  they 
are  in  the  grave  :  says  he,  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
God  of  Moses ;  and  I  suppose  the  principles  of  that  deist 
made  one  pretty  near  to  him  ask,  as  soon  as  the  breath  was 
out  of  his  body,  Where  do  you  think  he  is  gone  ?  Another 
replies,  Where  do  you  think,  but  to  hell  ?  God  grant  that 
may  not  be  the  portion  of  any  here  ! 

The  question  then  is,  how  God  is  our  God ;  thy  God.  My 
brethren,  our  all  depends  upon  it ;  what  signifies  saying,  this 
is  mine,  and  that  is  mine,  if  you  cannot  say,  God  is  mine. 
The  best  thing  that  God  has  left  in  the  New  Testament,  is 
Himself;  "I  will  be  their  God,"  that  is  one  of  the  legacies; 
and  "  a  new  heart  also  will  I  give  them,"  that  is  another ;  "  I 


APPENDIX.  419 

will  put  My  laws  in  their  mind,  and  write  them  in  their  hearts," 
that  is  another :  but  all  that  is  gooil  for  nothing,  comparatively- 
speaking,  unless  God  has  said  at  the  same  time,  for  they  are  all 
inseparable,  "  I  will  be  their  God  and  tlicy  shall  be  My  people." 
Now  how  shall  I  know  that  God  is  my  God?  I  am  afraid, 
some  people  think  there  is  no  knowing  :  well  then,  if  you 
think  so,  you  set  up  a  worship,  and  go  and  erect  an  altar,  and 
instead  of  receiving  God  in  the  sacrament  as  yours,  go  and 
worship  an  unknown  God.  I  am  so  far  from  believing  that 
we  cannot  know  that  God  is  ours,  that  I  am  fully  persuaded  of 
it,  and  would  speak  it  with  humility,  and  I  would  not  choose 
to  leave  you  with  a  lie  in  my  mouth,  that  I  have  known  it  for 
about  thirty-five  years,  as  clear  as  the  sun  is  in  the  meridian, 
that  God  is  my  God.  And  how  shall  I  know  it,  my  brethren  ? 
I  would  ask  you  this  question,  didst  thou  ever  feel  the  want 
of  God  to  be  thy  God  ?  Nobody  knows  God  to  be  their  God 
that  did  not  feel  Him  to  be  his  God  in  Christ :  out  of  Christ, 
God  is  a  consuming  fire.  I  know  there  are  a  great  variety  of 
ways  in  people's  conversions,  but  still,  my  brethren,  we  must  all 
feel  our  misery,  we  must  all  feel  our  distance  from  God,  all  feel 
that  we  are  estranged  from  God,  that  we  bring  into  the  world 
with  us  a  nature  that  is  not  agreeable  to  the  law  of  God,  nor 
possibly  can  be ;  we  cannot  be  said  to  believe  that  God  is  our 
God,  till  we  are  brought  to  be  reconciled  to  Him  through  His 
Son.  Can  I  say  a  person  is  my  friend,  till  I  am  reconciled  to 
him  ?  And  therefore  the  gospel  only  is  the  ministration  of 
reconciliation.  Paul  says,  "We  beseech  you  as  ambassadors 
of  Christ,  that  you  would  be  reconciled  unto  God;"  this  is  to 
be  the  grand  topic  of  our  preaching;  we  are  to  beseech  them, 
and  God  Himself  turns  beggar  to  His  own  creatures  to  be  re- 
conciled to  Him  :  now  this  reconciliation  is  brought  about  by 
a  poor  sinner's  being  brought  "to  Jesus  Christ;    and  when  once 


420  APPENDIX. 

he  sees  his  enmity  and  hatred  to  God,  feeh'ng  the  misery  of 
departing  from  Him,  and  being  conscious  that  he  is  obnoxious 
to  eternal  wrath,  flies  to  Jesus  as  to  a  place  of  refuge,  and  ex- 
pects only  a  reconciliation  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ; 
without  this,  neither  you  nor  I  can  say,  God  is  my  God : 
"there  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked."  The  min- 
isters of  Christ  must  take  care  they  do  not  preach  an  unknown 
God,  and  we  must  take  care  we  do  not  pretend  to  live  upon 
an  unknown  God,  a  God  that  is  not  appropriated  and  brought 
home  to  our  souls  by  the  efficacy  of  the  Spirit.  But,  my 
brethren,  we  cannot  say,  God  is  our  God,  unless  we  are  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Can  you  say,  such  a  one  is  your  father,  unless 
you  can  give  proof  of  it  ?  You  may  be  bastards ;  there  are 
many  bastards  laid  at  Christ's  door.  Now,  God  cannot  be 
my  God,  at  least  I  cannot  know  Him  to  be  so,  unless  He  is 
pleased  to  send  into  my  heart  the  spirit  of  adoption,  and  to 
admit  me  to  enjoy  familiarity  with  Christ. 

My  brethren,  I  told  you  the  other  night  that  the  grand 
y  controversy  God  has  with  England,  is  for  the  slight  put  on 
the  Holy  Ghost.  As  soon  as  a  person  begins  to  talk  of  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  they  cry.  You  are  a  Meth'odist ;  as 
soon  as  you  speak  about  the  divine  influences  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  O!  say  they,  you  are  an  enthusiast.  May  the  Lord 
keep  these  mcthodistical  enthusiasts  amongst  us  to  the  latest 
posterity.  Ignatius,  supposed  to  have  been  one  of  the  chil- 
dren that  Jesus  took  up  in  His  arms,  in  his  first  epistle,  (pray 
read  it,)  wrote  soon  after  St.  John's  death,  and  we  value  notic- 
ing so  authentic  as  what  was  wrote  in  the  three  first  centuries, 
bears  a  noble  testimony  of  this  truth.  When  I  was  perform- 
ing my  first  exercises  at  Oxford,  I  used  to  take  delight  to 
walk  and  read  it,  and  could  not  help  noting  and  putting  down 
from  time  to  time  several  remarkable  passages.     In  the  super- 


APPENDIX.  421 

scription  of  all  his  epistles,  I  remember,  he  styles  himself 
TlieopJioros,  i.  c,  Bearer  of  God,*  and  believed  that  those  he 
wrote  to,  were  so  too.  Somebody  went  and  told  Trajan,  tliat 
one  Ignatius  was  an  enthusiast,  that  he  carried  God  about 
him  :  being  brought  before  the  emperor,  who,  though  in  other 
respects  a  good  prince,  was  a  cruel  enemy  to  the  Christians  ; 
but  many  a  good  prince  does  bad  things  by  the  influence  of 
wicked  counsellors,  like  our  king  Henry  V.,  who  was  brought 
in  to  persecute  the  poor  Lollards,  for  assembling  in  St.  Giles' 
fields  to  hear  the  pure  gospel,  by  false  accusation  of  being 
rebels  against  him.  Before  such  a  prince  was  Ignatius 
brought:  says  Trajan,  Who  is  this  that  calls  himself  a  bearer 
of  God  ?  Says  Ignatius,  I  am  he ;  for  which  he  quotes  this 
passage,  /  will  divell  in  them,  atid  will  walk  in  them,  and  they 
shall  be  My  sons  and  daughters,  says  the  Lord  Almighty.  The 
emperor  was  so  enraged,  that,  in  order  to  cure  him  of  his  en- 
thusiasm, he  ordered  him  to  be  devoured  by  lions;  at  which 
Ignatius  laughed  for  joy.  O !  says  he,  am  I  going  to  be  de- 
voured ?  And  when  his  friends  came  about  him,  he  almost  v^ 
danced  for  gladness ;  when  they  carried  him  to  execution,  he 
smiled,  and  turning  about  said,  now  I  begin  to  be  a  martyr  of 
Jesus  Christ !  I  have  heard  that  the  lions  have  leaped  from 
the  martyrs,  but  when  they  come  to  me,  I  will  encourage 
them  to  fall  on  me  with  all  their  violence.  God  give  you  such 
enthusiasm  in  a  trying  hour !  This  is  to  have  God  for  our 
God;  "he  that  believeth  hath  the  witness  in  himself,"  as  it  is 
written  in  this  blessed  word  of  God,  and  I  hope  it  will  be 
the  last  book  that  I  shall  read.  Farewell  father,  farewell 
mother,  farewell  sun,  moon,  and  stars !  was  the  language  of 
one  of  the  Scotch  martyrs  in  King  Charles'  time,  and  it  is 
amazing  to  me  that  even  Mr.  Hume  (I  believe)  a  professed 
*Deum  ferensj  inspired,  divine,  holy. 


422  APPENDIX. 

deist,  in  his  history  of  England,  mentions  this  as  a  grand  exit, 
and  also  that  seraphic  soul  Mr.  Hervey,  now  with  God,  that 
the  last  words  of  the  martyr  were.  Farewell  thou  precious 
Bible,  thou  blessed  book  of  God.  This  is  my  rock,  this  is 
my  foundation ;  it  is  now  about  thirty-five  years  since  I  began 
to  read  the  Bible  upon  my  pillow.  I  love  to  read  this  book, 
but  the  book  is  nothing  but  an  account  of  the  promises  which 
it  contains,  and  almost  every  word  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  it,  speaks  of  a  spiritual  dispensation,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  that  unites  our  souls  to  God,  and  helps  a  believer  to 
say  my  Lord  and  my  God !  If  you  content  yourselves  with 
that,  the  devil  will  let  you  talk  of  doctrines  enough.  O  you 
vshali  turn  from  Arminianism  to  Calvinism.  O  you  shall  be 
orthodox  enough,  if  you  will  be  content  to  live  without 
Christ's  living  in  you.  Now  when  you  have  the  Spirit,  then 
you  may  say,  God  is  mine.  O  this  is  very  fine,  say  some, 
every  body  pretends  to  the  Spirit ;  and  then  you  may  go  on  as 
a  bishop  once  told  a  nobleman — My  lord,  these  Methodists  say 
they  do  all  by  the  Spirit,  so  if  the  devil  bids  them  murder  any 
body,  they  will  say  the  Spirit  bid  them  do  it ;  and  that  very 
bishop  died,  how  ?  Why  horrid  !  the  last  words  he  spoke  were 
these,  The  battle  is  fought^  the  battle  is  fought,  the  battle  is 
fought,  but  the  victory  is  lost  for  ever.  God  grant  you  and  I 
may  not  die  with  such  words  as  these.  I  hope  you  and  I  shall 
die,  and  say.  The  battle  is  fought,  the  battle  is  fought,  the  battle  is 
fought,  I  have  fought  the  good  fight,  and  the  victory  is  gained 
for  ever.  Thus  died  Mr.  Ralph  Erskine — his  last  words  were, 
Victory,  victory,  victory!  and  they  that  can  call  God  their 
God,  shall  by  and  by  cry,  victory,  victory!  and  that  for  ever. 
God  grant  that  we  may  all  be  of  that  happy  number. 

If  we  can  call   God  our  God,  we  shall  endeavor  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  be  like  God,  we  shall  have  His  divine  image 


APPENDIX.  423 

stamped  upon  our  souls,  and  endeavor  to  be  followers  of  that 
God  who  is  our  Father :  and  this  brings  in  the  other  part  of 
the  text,  thy  God  thy  glory.  What  is  that?  The  greatest 
honor  that  a  poor  believer  thinks  he  can  have  on  earth,  is  to 
boast  that  God  is  his  God.  When  it  was  proposed  to  David, 
that  if  he  killed  an  hundred  Philistines,  he  should  have  the 
king's  daughter  for  his  wife,  and  a  very  sorry  wife  she  was, 
no  great  gain  turned  out  to  him :  says  he,  "  Do  you  think  it  is 
a  small  thing  to  be  the  son-in-law  to  a  king  ?"  A  poor  strip- 
ling as  I  ■  am  here,  come  with  my  shepherd's  crook ;  what !  to 
be  married  to  a  king's  daughter ;  do  you  think  that  a  small 
thing  ?  And  if  David  thought  it  no  small  thing  to  be  allied 
to  a  king  by  his  daughter,  what  a  great  thing  must  it  be  to  be 
allied  to  the  Lord  by  one  Spirit  ?  I  am  afraid  there  are  some 
people  that  were  once  poor  that  are  now  rich,  that  think  it  a 
great  thing,  that  wish,  O  that  my  family  had  a  coat  of  arms ; 
some  people  would  give  a  thousand  pounds,  I  believe,  for  one. 
Coats  of  arms  are  very  proper  to  make  distinction  in  life ;  a 
great  many  people  wear  coats  of  arms  that  their  ancestors 
obtained  honorably,  but  they  are  a  disgrace  to  them  as  they 
wear  them  on  their  coaches.  But  this  is  our  glory,  whether 
we  walk  or  ride,  whatever  our  pedigree  may  be  in  life,  this  is 
our  honor,  that  our  God  may  be  our  glory.  "  O  what  manner 
of  love  is  this,"  saith  one,  "that  the  Lord  doth  bestow  on  us, 
that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God !"  born  not  of  the 
will  of  man,  born  not  of  flesh,  but  born  from  above.  O  God 
grant  that  this  may  be  your  glory  and  mine  ! 

My  brethren,  if  God  is  our  God  and  our  glory,  I  will  tell 
you  what  we  shall  prove  it  by;  whether  we  eat  or  drink,  or 
whatever  we  do,  we  should  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.  Re- 
ligion, as  I  have  often  told  you,  turns  our  whole  life  into  one 
continued  sacrifice  of  love  to  God.     As  a  needle,  when  once 


424  APPENDIX. 

touched  by  a  loadstone,  turns  to  a  particular  pole,  so  the 
heart  that  is  touched  by  the  love  of  God,  turns  to  his  God 
again.  I  shall  have  occasion  to  take  notice  of  it  by  and  by. 
when  I  am  aboard  a  ship :  for  as  soon  as  I  get  on  board  I 
generally  place  myself  in  one  particular  place  under  the  com^ 
pass  that  hangs  over  my  head ;  I  often  look  at  it  by  night  and 
by  day ;  when  I  rise,  the  needle  turns  to  one  point,  when  I  go 
to  bed,  I  find  it  turns  to  the  same  point :  and  often  while  I 
have  been  looking  at  it,  my  heart  has  been  turned  to  God, 
saying,  Lord  Jesus,  as  that  needle  touched  by  the  loadstone, 
turns  to  one  point,  O  may  my  heart,  touched  by  the  magnet 
of  God's  love,  turn  to  Him !  A  great  many  people  think, 
they  never  worship  God  but  when  at  church  ;  and  a  great 
many  are  very  demure  on  Lord's  days,  though  many  begin  to 
leave  that  off  I  know  of  no  place  upon  the  face  of  the  earth 
where  the  Sabbath  is  kept  as  it  is  in  Boston ;  if  a  single  per- 
son was  to  walk  in  Boston  streets  in  time  of  worship,  he 
would  be  taken  up ;  it  is  not  trusted  to  poor  insignificant 
men,  but  the  justices  go  out  in  time  of  worship,  they  walk 
with  a  white  wand,  and  if  they  catch  any  person-  walking  in 
the  streets,  they  put  them  under  a  black  rod.  O !  the  great 
mischiefs  the  poor  pious  people  have  suffered  lately  through 
the  town's  being  disturbed  by  the  soldiers !  When  the  drums 
were  beating  before  the  house  of  Dr.  Sawell,  one  of  the  holiest 
men  that  ever  was,  when  he  was  sick  and  dying,  on  the  Sab- 
bath day,  by  his  meeting,  where  the  noise  of  a  single  person 
was  never  heard  before,  and  he  begged  that  for  Christ's  sake 
they  would  not  beat  the  drum ;  they  damned  and  said,  that 
they  would  beat  to  make  him  worse ;  this  is  not  acting  for  the 
glory  of  God ;  but  when  a  soul  is  turned  to  God,  every  day  is 
a  Sabbath,  every  meal  is  a  spiritual  refreshment,  and  every 
sentence   he  speaks,  should  be  a  sermon;    and   whether  he 


APPENDIX.  425 

stays  abroad  or  at  home,  whether  he  is  on  the  exchange,  01 
locked  up  in  a  closet,  he  can  say,  O  God,  Thou  art  my  God ! 
Now,  my  dear  friends,  can  you,  dare  you  say,  that  your 
God  is  your  glory,  and  do  you  aim  at  glorifying  the  Lord 
your  God  :  if  your  God  is  your  glory,  then  say,  "O  God  forbid 
that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
by  whom  the  world  is  crucified  to  me,  and  I  am  crucified  to 
the  world."  What  say  you  to  that  now?  Do  not  talk  of 
God's  being  your  glory,  if  you  do  not  love  His  cross.  If  God 
is  our  glory,  we  shall  glory  not  only  in  doing,  but  in  suffering 
for  Him  ;  we  shall  glory  in  tribulation,  and  count  ourselves 
most  highly  honored  when  we  are  called  to  suffer  most  for 
His  great  name's  sake.  I  might  enlarge,  but  you  may  easily 
judge  by  my  poor  feeble  voice  this  last  week,  that  neither  my 
strength  of  voice,  or  body,  will  permit  me  to  be  long  to-night, 
and  yet  I  will  venture  to  give  you  your  last  parting  salutation; 
and  though  I  have  been  dissuaded  from  getting  up  to  preach 
this  night,  yet  I  thought  as  my  God  was  my  glory,  I  should 
glory  in  preaching  till  I  died.  O  that  God  may  be  all  our 
glory!  All  our  own  glory  fades  away,  and  there  is  nothing 
will  be  valuable  at  the  great  day,  but  this,  Thou  art  my  God, 
and  Thou  art  my  glory.  It  was  a  glorious  turn  that  good  Mr. 
Shepherd,  of  Bradford,  mentions  in  one  of  his  sermons,  where 
he  represents  Jesus  Christ  as  coming  to  judgment,  seated  upon 
His  throne,  in  a  sermon  preached  before  some  ministers. 
Christ  calls  one  minister  to  Him,  Pray  what  brought  you  into 
the  church  ?  O,  says  he.  Lord,  there  was  a  living  in  the  family, 
and  I  was  presented  to  it  because  it  was  a  family  living :  Stand 
thou  by,  says  Christ.  A  second  comes :  What  didst  thou 
enter  the  church  for  ?  O  Lord,  says  he,  I  had  a  fine  elocu- 
tion, I  had  good  parts,  and  I  went  into  the  church  to  show 
ply  oratory  and  my  parts :    Stand  thou  by,  thou  hast  thy  re- 


426  APPENDIX. 

ward.  A  third  was  called :  And  what  brought  you  into  the 
church  ?  Lord,  says  he,  Thou  knowcst  all  things,  Thou  know- 
est  that  I  am  a  poor  creature,  vile  and  miserable,  and  un- 
worthy, and  helpless,  but  I  appeal  to  Thee  my  glory,  Thou 
sittest  upon  the  throne,  that  Thy  glory  and  the  good  of  souls 
brought  me  there.  Christ  immediately  says,  Make  room,  men ; 
make  room,  angels,  and  bring  up  that  soul  to  sit  near  Me  on 
My  throne.  Thus  shall  it  be  done  to  all  that  make  God  theii 
glory  here  below.  Glorify  God  on  earth,  and  He  will  glorify 
you  in  heaven.  "  Come,  ye  blessed  of  My  Father,  receive  the 
kingdom  prepared  for,you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world," 
shall  be  your  portion:  and  if  so,  Lord  God  Almighty  make  us 
content  to  be  vilified  whilst  here,  make  us  content  to  be  de- 
spised while  below,  make  us  content  to  have  evil  things 
spoken  of  us  all  for  Christ's  sake,  yet  a  little  while;  and 
Christ  will  roll  away  the  stone :  and  the  more  we  are  honored 
by  His  grace  to  suffer,  the  more  we  shall  be  honored  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  O  that  thought!  O  that  blessed  thought! 
O  that  soul-transporting  thought!  it  is  enough  to  make  us 
leap  into  a  fiery  furnace  ;  in  this  spirit,  in  this  temper,  may 
God  put  every  one  of  us. 

If  there  be  any  of  you  that  have  not  yet  called  God  your 
God,  may  God  help  you  to  do  so  to-night.  When  I  was  rea- 
soning within  myself,  whether  I  should  come  up,  or  whether 
it  was  my  duty  or  not,  I  could  not  help  thinking,  who  knows 
but  God  will  bless  a  poor  feeble  worm  to-night.  I  remember, 
a  dear  friend  sent  me  word  after  I  was  gone  to  Georgia,  "  Your 
last  sermon  at  the  Tabernacle  was  blessed  to  a  particular  per- 
son ;"  I  heard  from  that  person  to-day,  and  who  knows  but 
some  may  come  to-night,  and  say,  I  will  go  and  hear  what  the 
babbler  has  to  say;  who  knows  but  curiosity  may  be  overruled 
for  good  ?     Who  knows  but  those  that  have  served  the  lust 


APPENDIX.  427 

of  the  flesh  and  the  pride  of  h'fc,  for  their  god,  may  now  take 
the  Lord  to  be  their  God?  O!  if  I  could  but  see  this,  I  think 
I  could  drop  down  dead  for  you. 

My  dear  Christians,  will  you  not  help  me  to-night,  you 
that  go  and  call  God  your  God?  Go  and  beg  of  God  for 
me,  pray  to  heaven  for  me,  do  pray  for  those  that  are  in  the 
gall  of  bitterness,  that  have  no  God,  no  Christ  to  go  to,  and 
if  they  were  to  die  to-night,  would  be  damned  forever.  O 
poor  sinner,  where  is  your  glory  then  ?  where  is  your  purple 
and  fine  linen  then  ?  your  purple  robes  will  be  turned  into 
purple  fire,  and  instead  of  calling  God  your  God,  will  be 
damned  with  the  devil.  O  think  of  your  danger !  O  cartli, 
earth,  earth,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord !  If  you  never  have 
been  awakened  before,  may  the  arrows  of  God,  steeped  in  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  reach  your  hearts  now !  Think  how 
you  live  at  enmity  with  God  ;  think  of  your  danger  eveiy  day 
and  every'  hour,  your  danger  of  dropping  into  hell  ;  think  how 
your  friends  in  glory  will  leave  you ;  and  may  this  considera- 
tion, under  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  excite  you  to 
choose  God  for  your  God !  Though  the  sun  is  going  down, 
though  the  shadow  of  the  evening  is  coming  on,  God  is  will- 
ing, O  man,  God  is  willing,  O  woman,  to  be  a  sinner's  God. 
He  has  found  out  a  way  whereby  He  can  be  reconciled  to  you. 
I  remember  when  I  saw  a  nobleman  condemned  to  be  hanged, 
the  Lord  High  Steward  told  him,  that  however  he  was  obliged 
to  pass  sentence  on  him,  and  did  not  know  that  justice  would 
be  satisfied  but  by  the  execution  of  the  law  in  this  world,  yet 
there  might  be  a  way  whereby  justice  might  be  satisfied  and 
mercy  take  place  in  another:  when  I  heard  his  lordship 
speak,  I  wished  that  he  had  not  only  said,  there  might  be 
a  way,  but  that  he  had  found  out  the  way  wherein  God  could 


428  APPENDIX. 

be  just,  and  yet  a  poor  murderer  coming  to  Jesus  Christ  should 
be  pardoned. 

You  that  can  call  God  yours,  God  help  you  from  this 
moment  to  glorify  Him  more  and  more:  and  if  God  be  your 
God  and  your  glory,  I  am  persuaded,  if  the  love  of  God 
abounds  in  your  hearts,  you  will  be  willing  on  every  occasion 
to  do  everything  to  promote  His  honor  and  glory,  and  there- 
fore you  will  be  willing  at  all  times  to  assist  and  help  as  far 
as  lies  in  your  power  to  keep  up  places  of  worship,  to  promote 
His  glory  in  the  salvation  and  conversion  of  sinners ;  and  I 
mention  this  because  there  is  to  be  a  collection  this  night :  I 
would  have  chosen,  if  possible,  to  have  evaded  this  point,  but 
as  this  Tabernacle  has  been  repaired,  and  as  the  expense  is 
pretty  large,  and  as  I  would  choose  to  leave  everything  unin- 
■  cumbered,  I  told  my  friends  I  would  undertake  to  make  a  col- 
lection, that  everything  might  be  left  quite  clear:  remember,  it 
it  is  not  for  me,  but  for  yourselves.  I  told  you  on  Wednesday 
how  matters  were;  I  am  now  going  a  thirteenth  time  over  the 
water,  on  my  own  expense,  and  you  shall  know  at  the  great 
day,  what  little,  very  little  assistance  I  have  had  from  those 
who  owed,  under  God,  their  souls  to  my  being  here :  but  this 
is  for  the  place  where  you  are  to  meet,  and  where  I  hope  God 
will  meet  you,  when  I  am  tossing  on  the  water,  when  I  am  in 
a  foreign  clime.  I  think  I  can  say,  Thy  glory,  O  God,  calls 
me  away,  and  as  I  am  going  towards  sixty  years  of  age,  I  shall 
make  what  dispatch  I  can,  and  I  hope,  if  I  am  spared  to  come 
back,  that  I  shall  hear  that  some  of  you  are  gone  to  heaven, 
or  are  nearer  heaven  than  you  were.  I  find  there  is  £']0 
arrears ;  I  hope  you  will  not  run  away ;  if  you  can  say  God  is 
my  glory,  you  will  not  push  one  upon  another,  as  though 
you  would  lose   yourselves    in    the    crowd,  and    say   nobody 


APPENDIX.  429 

sees  me ;  but  does  not  God  Almighty  see  you  ?  I  hope  you 
will  be  ready  to  communicate,  and  when  I  am  gone,  that  God 
will  be  with  you  :  as  many  of  you  will  not  hear  me  on  Wed- 
nesday morning.  O  may  this  be  your  prayer,  O  for  Jesus 
Christ's  sake,  in  whose  name  I  preach,  in  whose  strength  1 
desire  to  come  up,  and  for  whose  honor  I  desire  to  be  spent, 
O  do  put  up  a  word  for  me ;  it  will  not  cost  you  much  time,  it 
will  not  keep  you  a  moment  from  your  business  ;  O  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Thou  art  his  God !  and.  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let 
him  be  Thy  glory !  If  I  die  in  the  waters,  I  shall  go  by  water 
to  heaven ;  if  I  land  at  the  Orphan-house,  I  hope  it  will  be  a 
means  to  settle  a  foundation  for  ten  thousand  persons  to  be 
instructed ;  and  if  I  go  by  the  continent,  as  I  intend  to  do,  I 
hope  God  will  enable  me  to  preach  Christ;  and  if  I  return 
again,  my  life  will  be  devoted  to  your  service.  You  will  ex- 
cuse me,  I  cannot  say  much  more;  affection  works,  and  I  could 
heartily  wish,  and  I  beg  it  as  a  favor,  when  I  come  to  leave 
you,  that  you  will  excuse  mc  from  a  particular  parting 
with  you.  Take  my  public  farewell;  I  will  pray  for  you 
when  in  a  cabin;  I  will  pray  for  you  when  storms  and  tem- 
pests are  about  me ;  and  this  shall  be  my  prayer  for  the 
dear  people  of  the  Tabernacle,  for  the  dear  people  of  the 
Chapel,  for  the  dear  people  of  London :  O  God,  be  Thou 
their  God !  and  grant,  that  their  God  may  be  their  glory. 
Even  so,  Lord  Jesus !     Amen. 


INDEX. 


Aberdeen,  207,  211. 

Abergavenny,  106,208,  213,  214,  216, 

264. 
Alexander,   Rev.  Dr,    A.,  127,    153, 

364- 

Albany,  327. 

Albans,  St.,  93. 

"  All  a  gore  of  blood,"  298. 

Allowances,  short,  84. 

America,  77,80,  91,  116,  122,  141, 
153,  189,  190,  192,  212,  225,  241, 
255,  267,  278,  285,  289,  306,  314, 

343.351.365.377- 
Annapolis,  130. 
Antinomianism,  255. 
Archbishop   of    Canterbury,    53,   90, 

318. 
Arminianism,  192. 
Arrows  of  conviction,  298. 
Associate  Presbytery,  204.    Its  public 

fast,  227. 
Association,  first  Methodist,. 234,  235. 
Association,  Genl.  of  Conn.,  244. 
Assembly's  Catechism,  246. 

Baptists,  160. 

Baptized  an  old  Quaker,  107. 

Barber,  Mr.,  182,  188. 

Basil's  prayer,  284. 

Baskinridge,  183. 

Bath,  105,  291. 

Beaufort,  286. 

Beelzebub's  harvest,  390. 

Belfast,  275. 

Belcher,   Gov.,    163,  166,  171,    172, 

179,  244,  247,  260,  267,  280. 
Benson,  Bishop,  39,  40,  43,  52,  93. 

(431 


Bethesda,  140,  142,  145,  160,  187, 
233,  247,  261,  276,  277,  286,  289, 
308,  312,  313,  322,  383. 

Bethesda  College  project,  318,   326, 

345- 
Bermudas,  145,  265. 
Bengeworth,  235. 
Berridge,  Rev.  Jno.,  305. 
Beza,  197. 

Bible  class  on  shipboard,  63. 
Big   congregations,    no,  3000;    in, 

50,000  ;    112,  60,000  ;    115,  SOjOOO ; 

119,  40,000;  also    171   and   229. 
Big  collections,    H2,   113,    136,  141, 

166,  170. 
Blackwood's    Edinburgh     Magazine, 

77,  98,  180. 
Blackheath,  no,  in,  116,  119,  206. 
Blair,  Rev.  Mr.,  131,  156,  247. 
Bowling  Green,  99,  105. 
Bolingbroke,  Lord,  256,  257. 
Bolton,  292. 
Boltzius,  Mr.,  76. 
Boston,  163,  165,  166,  167,  171,  179, 

180,184,  243,  245,  287,  292,  305, 

310,311,  328,329,  335. 
Boston  Common,  141. 
Boston  Gazette,  352. 
Boy  cut  to  the  heart,  183. 
Boy,  little,  preaches,  183. 
Boys,  little,  converted,  224. 
Bradford,  281,  296. 
Brainard,  Mr.,  246. 
Braintree,  198. 

Breaking  heads  and  hearts,  105. 
Burkitt's  Notes,  37. 
Banyan,  John,  301. 

) 


432 


INDEX. 


Burning  Bush,  144. 

Burns,  20. 

Burscougli,  Bisliop,  88. 

Butler,  Bp.,  17. 

Burr,  Rev.  A.,  184,  287,  302. 

Bristol,    52,    S3,    55,   106,    117,   163, 

197,    198,  199,  215,  216,  261,  274, 

291,  301,  306,  321. 
Bryan,  Mr.   H.,  144,  188. 

Cards,  fond  of,  21,  71. 

Calvin,  197. 

Calvinistic  views,  192. 

Calvinistic  school,  197. 

Calvinism  of  Wesley,  200,  201. 

Caniljuslang,  225,  227,  229,  230,  306, 

3^(>,  3^7- 
Cambridge,  165. 
Carmarthen,  235. 
Catechism,  Episcopal,  143. 
Cennick,  Mr.,  198. 
Charleston,    80,    82,    134,   136,   137, 

138,   160,    161,  164,  187,   188,  247, 

250,  289,  323,  324,  326. 
Chalmers,  Rev.  Dr.,  332. 
Checvcr,  Rev.  Mr.,  243. 
Chelsea,  256. 
Chestcrheld,    Lord,     256,    257,    361, 

365- 
Cicero,  19. 

Christian  Review,  114. 
Clapp,  Rev.  Mr.,  162,  177. 
Clark's  Bible,  303. 
Clarkson,  Mr.,  329. 
Clergy,  ignorant,   18. 
College,  Bethesda,  318. 
Coleman,    Rev.    Dr.,    142,    167,  243, 

245. 
Columbus,  19. 
Coc,  Captain,  87,  88. 
Cole,  Mr.,  108,  244. 
Colliers  of   Kingswood,   96,   97,  98, 

106. 
Convulsive  fits  from  the  devil,  151. 
Converted  little  girl,  169. 
Conversion  of  W.,  33. 
Converted  Indians,  246. 
Converted  noblemen,  258. 


"  Common  Drawyer,"  23. 
Cooper,  Rev.  Mr.,  170. 
Congregational  churches,  180. 
Covenanters'  Fast,  227. 
Covenanters'  views,  205. 
Cork,  274,  298,  299. 
Cormick,  Mr.,  232. 
Communicants'  tears  in  the  cup,  60. 
Cradle  of  Presbyterianism,  126. 
Cripplegate,  57. 

Crying  out,  157,  171,   175,   176,  182, 
183,  225. 

Dartmouth,  Lord,  318. 

Davis,  Rev.  Saml.,  247,  283. 

Dead  congregations,  170. 

Deal  64,  65,  66. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  366. 

Delamotte,  50,  75,  77. 

Demosthenes,  19,  222. 

"  Devil  is  blind.  The,"  104. 

"  Devil  of  devils,"  293. 

"  Delusion,"  The,  227. 

Devil's  castaway,  The,  256,  257. 

Dickinson,  Rev.  Dr.,  125. 

Dixon,  Rev.  Dr.,  319. 

Doddridge,  Rev.  Dr.,  18,  113,  269 

Downs,  The,  63,  65,  67. 

Doctrines  W.  preached,  44,  59. 

Dublin,  88,  89,  274,  297,  298,  299. 

Durell,  Rev.  Dr.  319. 

Drury  Lane  theatre,  304. 

Earthquake  sermon,  268. 

Edenton,  N.  C,  132. 

Edinburgh,   203,  204,   206,  207,  20S 

224,  227,  232,  260,  271,  273,  275 

281,  296,  297,  302,  305,  306. 
Edwards,  Jonathan,    19,     172,     173 

174,  175.  177,  iSo,  302,  332,  385 

386. 
Edwards,  Rev.  D.,  355. 
Episcopalians,  160,  186. 
Eloquence,  its  source,  386. 
Ellington,  Rev.  Mr.,  344,  354. 
Erskine,  Rev.  Ralph,  203,  260. 
Exeter,  329,  334. 


INDEX, 


433 


Expedition  against  Cape  Breton,  245. 
Evangelists,  three  great,  92. 
Executors,  Wiiitefield's  347. 

Falmouth,  190,  314. 
Farewell  to  England,  322. 
Fast  day  on  ship,  64. 
Fetter  Lane,  90,  100,  109. 
Field-preaching    introduced,  96,   97, 

200,  365. 
Finley,  Rev.  Dr.,  338. 
Foster  Lane,  57. 
Foote,  Mr.  S.,  304.     ' 
I'ogg's  Manor,  157, 187,  225. 
Forty  preachers  congratulate  W.,  366. 
Foundry,  The,  198. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  152,  361,  383. 
Free-will  Baptists,  366. 
Frederica,  78,  80,  1 36. 
Funeral  of  Earl  of  B.,  318. 
Funeral  of  Wiiitefield,  341,  347. 

Garden,  Rev.  Mr.,  81,  134,  137. 

Gambling  house,  61. 

Garrick,  331,  363,  383. 

(iay  dressing  in  Charleston,  134. 

(;eorgia,  53,  54,  55,  56. 

Georgia  trustees,  93. 

Germantown,  128. 

Georgia  government  changed,  277. 

Giving  very  cheerfully,  112. 

Gibraltar,  68,  69. 

Gillies,    Dr.,  21,  49,   no,   155,    21S, 

272,  275,  288,  341,  344,  360,  362. 
Gill,  Rev.  Dr.  Jno.,  272. 
Giffurd,  272. 
Gladman,  Cap.,  87,  154. 
Glasgow,  207,    225,    229,  260,    272, 

275,  281,  297,  300,  302,  303,  305, 

306. 
Gloucester,  20,  37,  38,  216,  218,  261, 

274,  277,  291,  296. 
Gordon,  Rev.,  160. 
Gravesend,  61,  63,  120.  * 

Great  Revivals,  224,  225,  228. 

Habersham,  Mr.,  C4,  68,  70,  73,  74, 
140,  144,  188,  288,  324,  345,  379. 
28 


Hall,  Rev.  Dr.  R.,  332. 

Hall,  Bishop,  223. 

Hamilton,  Rev.  Dr.,  229. 

Happy  wedding,  182. 

Harris,  Howell,  104,  106,  107,  201, 

256. 
Harris,  Rev.  S.,  54. 
Hampton  Common,  234. 
Hannam,  Mount,  98,  99,  103,  105. 
Haven,  Dr.,  341. 
Heart-breaking  partings,  31 1. 
Henry's  commentai-y,  37,  351,  377. 
Ilervey,  Rev.  Jas.,  27,  51,  269,  272, 

292,  302,  332,  362. 
«  Holy  Club,"  The,  27,  28,  51. 
lloby.  Rev.  Dr.,  348. 
Hodge,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles,  152. 
Hume,  257,  361. 
Huss,  John,  265. 
Hyde  Park,  268. 

Impulses,  175,  289. 

Indians,  143. 

Indian  school,  309,  315. 

Indian  preachers,  315. 

Indian  congress,  325. 

Impulse  given  by  W.,  289,  364. 

Inquirers,  anxious,  128,  151,  I53'  '57« 

163,  171,  180,  206,  234. 
Ipswich,  287. 
Ireland,  88,  274,  275,  297. 
Irish  cabin,  88. 
Islington,  in. 

James,  Jno.  Angel,  221. 

James,  Mrs.  E.,  2H. 

Jaques,  Mr.,  347. 

Jay,  Rev.  Wm.,  344. 

Jewett,  Rev.  Mr.,  343. 

Jonson,    Ben.,  20. 

Journal,  Whitefield's,  128,  130,  132, 

206,  217,  254. 
Joyful  hallelujahs,  326. 
Joy,  great,    1 58,    160,   161,    166,  207, 

215,  2i6,  217,  224,  278,  279,  281. 
Justification  by  faith  discovered,  37, 

90. 


434 


INDEX. 


Kempis,  Thomas  k,  25,  28. 
Keen,  Mr.,  327,  328,  344,  345. 
Kennington  Common,  no,  in,  112, 

113.  114,  115,  118,  190,  198. 
Ken,  Bishop,  22. 
Kirkland,  Mr.,  327. 
Kihnarnock,  230. 
Kilbride,  230. 
Kilsilh,  230. 
Kinchin, Dean,  51. 
Kingswood,  96,    103,  106,  in,   197, 

216,  261. 
Kingswood  school-house,  106. 
Kinsman,  Rev.  A.,  332. 
King  George,  289,  293,  299. 
Kitteiy,  329. 

Lady  Huntingdon,  255,  256,  257, 
259,  261,  269,  270,  273,  280,  291, 
292,  301,  314,  316,  317,  321,  345. 
Her   character,  259. 

Land  granted  for  Orphan  House,  93, 
3>.2. 

Last  letter  of  W.,  328. 

Last  sermon,  329. 

Latin  school  at  Bethesda,  247. 

Law,  Wm.,  28,  29,  254. 

Leeds,  266,  280,  281,  292,  293,  296, 
306. 

Letters,  Whitefield's,  199. 

Lewistown,  Pa.,  122. 

Limerick,  274,  298,  299. 

Light  become  darkness,  179. 

Lions  turned  to  lambs,  220. 

Lisbon,  285,  294. 

Little  converted  girl,  129. 

Liverpool,  292. 

Livingstone,  Jno.,  loi. 

Log  college,  126,  127,  364. 

Lord  Halifax,  297. 

Lost  man,  78. 

London,  161,  199,  200,  213,215,221, 
232,  235,  237,  261,  266,  268,  272, 
276,  282,  291,  299,  300,  304,  306, 
308,  315,  317,  344,  354,  381. 

London  alarmed,  56,  89,  90,  93. 
London  Chronicle,  344. 


Love  feast,  precious,  91,  92,  lOO. 
Luther,  Martin,  20,  85. 

MacLaurin,  Rev.  Jno.,  272. 

MacMahan,Mr.,87,  88. 

McCosh,  Rev.  Dr.,  127, 

McCuUough,  Mr.,  227,  229. 

Manchester,  292. 

Manner  of  W.'s  preaching,  331,  332. 

Marylebone  fields,  222. 

Margate,  63. 

Mayfair,  115. 

Melanchthon,  233. 

Methodism,  origin  of,  27. 

Methodism,  strength  of,  28. 

Methodism,  epoch  of,  92. 

Methodist,  222,  315,  316,  317,  319. 

Methodist  church,  first,  34. 

Methodist  seminary,  first,  117. 

Methodist,  Oxford,  46,   47,  186,  263; 

,    266,  298. 

Methodist,  Calvinistic,  194,  234. 

Methodism,  307,  317,  364,  365. 

Mesopotamia,  331. 

Moody,  Rev.  Mr.,  167. 

Moorfields,  109,  no,  in,  112,  113, 
114,  115,  118,  197,  206,  218,  219, 
222,  224,  235,  255,  268,  389. 

Moravians,  284. 

Morrison,  Mr.,  sued  for  having  preach- 
ing in  his  house,  247. 

"  Morris'  reading  house,"  247. 

Mrs.  Whiteheld,  212,  213,  214,  224, 
241,  254,  265.  Her  death,  320. 
Monument,  320. 

Muir,  Rev.  Dr.,  233. 

Muthel,  230. 

"  Nail  the  flag  just  below  the  cross," 

294- 
Negroes,  166,  180,  251,  253. 
Newark,  183. 
Newbern,  132,  312. 
New  Brunswick,  184. 
New-creature  ministers,  308. 
New  Castle,  306,  313. 
Newburyport,    287,    310,    329,    334, 

349.  351- 


INDEX. 


435 


New   England,   162,   178,   179,   180, 
200,  218,  241,  243,  249,  309,  310, 

313.343- 

New  Brunswick,  153,  184. 

New  Haven,  177. 
New  era  dawned,  97. 
New  lights,  69. 
New  measures,  90,  I02. 
New  Jersey  College,   127,  172,  184, 
261,  269,  283,  308,  309,  311,  338, 

365- 
New  York,  123,  124,  125,  129,  177, 

178,  181,  246,  248,  249,  286,  309, 

310,311,314,  327. 
New  tabernacle,  278,  283. 
Nobility,  The,  314,  321. 
Nobility  converts,  258. 
Noble,  Mr.,  177,  181. 
Nonconformity  churches,  365. 
Nonconformists,  26. 
Northampton,    113,    162,    172,     174, 

176,  190,  269,  280,  292. 
Norwich,  280,  292. 
North  Carolina,  250,  288. 
North  Carolinians,  very  kind,  132. 
Nottingham,  187,  270. 

Occam,  Rev.  Mr.,  315. 
Offering  strange  fire,  170. 
Oglethorpe,  General,   53,    136,    139, 

140,  144. 
Ogle,  Gov.,  130. 
Old  Bell  Inn,  20. 
Opposition,  causes  of,  93,  95. 
Orphan   house,   76,  78,  80,  93,  104, 

106,  112,  113,  120,  136,  139,  140, 

141,  142,  144,  145,  190,  200,  232, 
248,  324.  345- 

Orphan  boy's  speech,  325. 
Oxford  Bull,  320. 
Oxford,  37,  49,  56,  93,  108. 
Oxford    University,  26,   27,  36,  319, 
351,  383- 

Paisley,  224,  225. 

Parsons,    Rev.  Mr.    330,     334,     336, 

349.  351- 
Paul,  89,  90,  100. 


Patriotism  of  W.,  293,  294. 
Pemberton,  Rev.  Dr.,  124,  129,  155. 

181. 
Pentecost,  another,  157. 
Pepperill,  Col.,  242. 
Persecutors  converted,  280. 
Periam,  Joseph,  113. 
Persecution,  232. 
Personal  appearance  of  W.,  330. 
Penn,  Wm.,  123. 
Philadelphia,  122,  127,  129, 130,  151, 

184,  186,  206,  211,  248,  286,  308, 

309.  312,  326,  327,  344. 
Philip,    Rev.    Dr.,    28,   53,  69',    100, 

202,  206,    240,  289,  316,  331,  383. 
Piety,  Church  of  England  low,  17. 
Picking  holes  in  coats   and   hearts, 

179. 
Pierpont,  Mr.,  177. 
Pilot  fish,  72. 
Pitched  battle,  The,  218. 
Piscataway,  241. 
"  Pickpocket,  spiritual,"  59. 
Planters  converted,  161. 
Plymouth,  R.   I.,  177,  188,  262,  299. 
Portsmouth,   167,  242,  243,  264,  269, 

273.  310.  328,  334- 
Portrait  of  W.,  310. 
Pointed  letter  to  Wesley,  195. 
''  Pot-boy,"  The,  23. 
Phillips,  Captain,  84. 
Poughkeepsie,  327. 
Portrait  of  W.,  310. 
Portugal,  285. 
Praying  to  men,  18. 
Prayer,  159,  160,   171,  181,  225,  241, 

266,  284,  328,  377,  329. 
Prayer  meetings,  loo,  loi,  1 16,  128. 
Prayed   and  sung  all    night,  58,  59, 

91,  116,  225,  228. 
Preaching  before  day,  57. 
Predestination,      Wesley's      sermon 

against,  193. 
Presbyterians,  160,  182,  i86,  247,  251, 

288. 
Presbyterian  church,    152,  156,  332, 

366. 


436 


INDEX. 


Presbyterian  church,  old  South,  347. 
Princeton  theological  seminary,  365. 
Prince,  Rev.  Dr.,  180,  1S4,  243,  349. 
Pulteney,  361. 

(  ^takers,  53,  107,  132,  15 1,  204,  222, 

(Quietism,  28. 

Railces,  Robert,  20. 
Ramsgate,  323. 
Rappahannock,  308. 
Randall,  Benj.,  339,  366. 
Reconciliation  effected,  201. 
Reading  W.'s  sermons,  246. 
Regeneration,  sermon  on,  56,  57,  58, 

59- 
Remains  of  W.,  347,  348. 
Revivals,  53,  55,  59,   108,   124,  143, 

148,  151,  156. 
Revival  at  Northampton,  172,  173. 
Revival  at  Cambuslang,  227. 
Revival  at  Bristol, 'Bath,  Gloucester, 

53- 

Revivals,  53,  55,  59,  108,  124,  143, 
148,  151,  156,  159,  162,  i66,  169, 
171,  172,  180,  184,  187,  206,  213, 
215,  218,  246,  261,  264,  270,  275, 
248,  299,  300,  304,  306,  309,  310, 
317.  321,  3(^4,  366,  387. 

Richmond,  288. 

Rodgers,  Rev.  Dr.  Jno.,  151,152, 167. 

Rodborough,  321. 

Romainc,  Rev.  Mr.,  314,  337. 

Roxbury,  165. 

Rose  Green,  99,  104,  Ii6. 

Sacrament,  precious,  60. 
Salisbury,  327. 
Sawyer,  Dr.,  336. 
Sayings  of  W.,  367,  371. 
Savannah,    76,   158,   159,    187,    211, 

276,  312,  324,  354,  380. 
Sermons,  Whitefield's,  331. 
Secret  of  his  victorious  death,  339. 
Sallies  of  joy,  54. 
Salem,  287. 
Satan  showing  his  teeth,  270. 


Seceders,  360. 

Seward,  Mr.,  106,  154. 

Separation  of  Whitefield  and  Wesley, 

190,  191,  192. 
Sectarianism    unknown    in    heaven, 

186. 
Scattered  sheep  gathered,  200. 
Scotland,    203,   207,   208,  216,    217, 

218,  224,  225,   260,  270,  278,  283, 

301,  306,  308,  320,  365,  377,  380. 
Scoffers  prayed  to  silence,  105,  1 18. 
School  on  ship-board,  70. 
Shakspeare,  20. 
Shark,  The,  71,  72. 
Shirley,  314,  316. 
Shuter,  pierced,  389. 
Simpson,  Bishop,  293. 
Ship  cook's  boast,  74. 
Shotts,  The,  loi. 
Smith,  Rev.  M.,  334,  341,  359. 
Social  meetings,  religious,  46,  59,  90, 

loi,  107,  128,  208. 
Springfield,  174. 
Spain,  68. 

Stevens,  Dr.  A.,  50,  180,  365. 
Strongest  wires,  The,  loi. 
Steven,  Sir  James,  360. 
St.  Annis,  57. 
"  Sweet  Bereavements,"  320.  ■ 

Tabernacle,  The,  198,  220,  255,  266, 
278,  279,  280,  284,  291,  293,  317, 

344- 
Tabernacle  society,  221. 
Tappan,  Mr.  W.,  349. 
Tabernacle,  lectures,  317. 
"Tears  of  blood,"  158. 
Tennent,  Rev.  Wm.,  126,  154,  155. 
Tennent,  Rev.  Charles,  14S,  187. 
Tennent,  Rev.  Gilbert,  123,  125, 126, 

152,  155>  176,   177,   183,  184,  249, 

283. 
Testimony  for  W.,  245. 
Thousands  cried  out,  157. 
Thorpe  converted,  27. 
Tillotson,  Arch.,  191. 
Toplady,  17,  331,  338,  357. 


INDEX. 


437 


"  Town  full  of  God's  presence,"  173, 
Trevecca  college  chapel,  320. 
Tiapp,  Dr.,  110. 

Tottenham  court  chapel,  321,  344. 
Tyennan,  Rev.  Mr.,  28,  34,  77.  I93. 
319.  3S8. 

University,  Oxford,  319,  351,  353. 
University,  Cambridge,  360. 
Unction,  W.'s  source  of,  100. 
Universities,  179,  244. 
"  Universal  stair,"  262. 

Venn,  Rev.  Mr.  191,  314,  355. 
Vesey,  Rev.  Mr.,  123. 

Wakely,  Rev.  Dr.,  210,  212,  330. 
Wales,  103,  106,  208,  211,  213,  217, 
234,  235,  264,  265,  274,  277,  279, 

30i>  365.  377- 
Warburton,  Bishop,  307. 
Walter,  Rev.  Mr.,  165. 
Walpole,  Horace,  257. 
Washington,  General,  2ii. 
Warren,  Rev.  Dr.,  366. 
Worcester,  172. 
Watts'  Psalms,  334. 
Watson,  Dr.,  18. 
Webster,  Daniel,  386. 


Webb,  Rev.,  167. 
Webster,  Rev.  Dr.  228. 
Wesley,  Jno.,  18,  28,  49,  S^,  5^>  67» 
77,  81,  90,  91,  97,  99,  105,  106, 
116,  117,  191,  192,  193,  194,  195, 
196,  197,  200,  201,  211,218,  249, 
258,  272,  280,  283,  338,  344,  347, 
352,  358.  364,  365.  376,  387-  His 
love  for  the  poor,  258. 

Wesley,  Charles,  27,  49,  50,   51,  90, 
91,  118,  139,  191,  249,  266,  347. 

"White  gutters,"  colliers'  cheeks,  98. 

White  Clay  creek,  130,  187. 

Whiting,  Captain,  63,  65,  73. 

Winter,  Cornelius,  312. 

Wilmington,  130,  148. 

Williamsburgh,  131 

Will  of  Whitefield,  345. 

Wycliffe,  Jno.,  278. 

Whitefield,  Thos,  345. 

Wright,  Mr.  A.,  345. 

York,  167,  293,  296,  329. 
Young  men's  society,  151. 
Young      women's      prayer-meetingS; 
208. 

Zeal  of  Whitefield,  321. 
Zubly,  Rev.  Mr.,  344. 


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